Challenges and resources of Mexican American students within the family, peer group, and university: age and gender patterns

Systematic examination of age and gender patterns in both challenges and resources experienced by Latino students during the college years is rare. In the present study, 100 male and female Mexican American undergraduates (50 lower division and 50 upper division) completed a questionnaire that assessed their perceptions offive challenges to completing college, along with associated resources. Challenges included financial difficulties, domestic responsibilities, academic discouragement, and racial and gender discrimination. Potential resources included individuals who helped students meet these challenges. No support was foundfor the hypothesis that upper-division students would reportfewer challenges and resources than lower-division students, norfor the hypothesis thatfemales would report greater challenges with domestic responsibilities. However, there was supportfor the hypothesis that males would report greater academic discouragement and racial discrimination.