“I Feel Disconnected … but Do I?”: University Students’ Sense of Belonging in Time of Adversity

Authors

Anna Bernadska, Governors State UniversityFollow
Giesela Grumbach, Governors State UniversityFollow
Linda Campos-Moreira, Governors State UniversityFollow
Maristela Zell, Governors State UniversityFollow
Lisa Hollis-Sawyer, Northeastern Illinois University

Files

Academic Unit

College of Health and Human Services

Publication Date

1-2024

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Research about students’ sense of belonging during major adverse events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. Using data from two public universities, we ask: How do students experience belonging in times of adversity? What factors affect their experience? “Feeling Disconnected” emerged as the major theme describing negative changes in belonging. The theme “Seeing Value in the Pandemic” emerged for students reporting positive changes. Several sub-themes illuminated factors that diminished or strengthened students’ belonging.

Journal Title

Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice

Volume

61

Issue

4

Beginning Page Number

577

Last Page Number

589

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/19496591.2023.2297180

Recommended Citation

Bernadska, Anna; Grumbach, Giesela; Campos-Moreira, Linda; Zell, Maristela; and Hollis-Sawyer, Lisa, "“I Feel Disconnected … but Do I?”: University Students’ Sense of Belonging in Time of Adversity" (2024). Faculty Authors and Creators Reception. 145.
https://opus.govst.edu/fac/145