Hmong Students in Higher Education : Analyzing Perceptions of Success, Family Communication Patterns, and Cultural Identity

Abstract

Hmong Students in American colleges are consistently learning how to navigate the obstacles of higher education. Hmong Students may experience additional challenges common to those shared by students who have low socioeconomic status, belong to ethnic minorities and/or are first generation college students. Previous research has shown that the quality of relationship and communication between the students with their parents, and cultural identity are influential factors that affect the experiences of first-generation students in higher education. Little attention has been given to how these factors—family communication patterns and cultural identity—may be associated, nor have Hmong students been asked to participate in a definition of what success on the university level means to them. Our study served to answer the following two research questions: RQ1: Are Hmong students' perceptions of success in life in general associated with a.) Family Communication Patterns (FCP) b.) Cultural Identity? RQ2: Are Hmong Students' perceptions of success in college associated with a.) FCP b.) Cultural Identity?