Graduation Date
Spring 2025
Document Type
Project
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Psychology, option Academic Research
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Brandilynn Villarreal
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Amber Gaffney
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Self-determination theory, Psychosocial resources, First-year students, Motivation, College transition, Young adulthood, Development
Subject Categories
Psychology
Abstract
First-year students transitioning to college culture have various areas of concern during this developmental period. Adolescents and young adults focus on creating and maintaining social connections while navigating a new environment and keeping up with their academics. With rising tuition costs, economic uncertainty, and pressing social challenges, many students enter college under significant stress. Navigating these challenges successfully requires motivation and support to persist through the first year and beyond. This project explored how college institutions support first-year students’ transition to higher education by helping students fulfill the three basic psychological needs of self-determination theory: autonomy, competency, and relatedness. When these psychological needs are fulfilled, students are more intrinsically motivated to complete their educational goals, especially in the face of challenges. Additionally, this project reviewed various factors that support students’ success, including coping strategies, identity development, resilience, problem-solving, and social support from parents, family, campus resources, faculty, staff, friends, and cohorts. Collectively, these supports are referred to as psychosocial resources. In a post-pandemic society, there is a growing need to understand students’ changing needs and experiences in higher education.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Weatherill, Hayley, "First-year college transition: The role of psychosocial resources in student motivation" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2305.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2305