Sense of belonging predicts persistence intentions among diverse dental education students: A multi-institutional investigation

To succeed in dental school, students need both academic and social experiences that are correlated with perceived membership and persistence. In this study, survey data from 247 dental students were analyzed to test for racial differences in dental students' sense of belonging and to measure the extent to which sense of belonging predicted students' intent to persist in dental school, controlling for grade point average (GPA) and sex. Results indicate that sense of belonging varies by race with White dental students feeling stronger connections in school than underrepresented minority (URM) peers. Regression results reveal that sense of belonging is related to dental students' persistence intentions, all other things being equal. In fact, sense of belonging influenced students' intent to persist in dental school 3 times more than GPA alone. Findings have significant implications for future policy, practice, and research, but also raise important questions for dental educators in the U.S.