Not so different and not deficient: First- and continuing-generation students' selves and self-discrepancies
Xiaolu Zhang1, Veronika Job1, Christina Bauer1
1Department of Occupational, Economic, and Social Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
British Journal of Psychology (London, England : 1953)
|July 12, 2025
Summary
First-generation college students and continuing-generation students share similar self-perceptions regarding their ideal and ought selves. Contrary to deficit narratives, first-generation students do not perceive greater discrepancies between their actual and aspired selves.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Education
Background:
- Previous research often uses a deficit lens for first-generation college students.
- Little is known about how first-generation and continuing-generation students perceive their own goals and obligations.
- Understanding self-perceptions is crucial for addressing educational equity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate self-perceptions of ideal and ought selves in first-generation and continuing-generation students.
- To compare perceived self-discrepancies between these two student groups.
- To challenge deficit-based narratives surrounding first-generation students.
Main Methods:
- Assessed ideal selves, ought selves, and self-discrepancies using Higgins's theory.
- Surveyed a large sample (N=1244) of US college students across three waves.
- Analyzed quantitative data to compare responses between first-generation and continuing-generation students.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in the content of ideal and ought selves between the two groups.
- Both first-generation and continuing-generation students reported strikingly similar characteristics for their ideal and ought selves.
- Perceived ideal or ought self-discrepancies did not significantly differ between the groups.
Conclusions:
- First-generation students' self-perceptions align with those of continuing-generation students.
- The study challenges deficit-based portrayals of first-generation students.
- First-generation students do not perceive themselves as further from their aspired selves than their peers.
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