An in depth examination of educational, family, economic, and personal determinants on academic performance, engagement, and stress: A comprehensive study among engineering students

Author

Oumaima Larif, Mississippi State UniversityFollow

Advisor

Tajik, Nazanin

Committee Member

Ma, Junfeng

Committee Member

Wang, Haifeng

Committee Member

Babski-Reeves, Kari

Date of Degree

5-16-2025

Original embargo terms

Embargo 1 year

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Abstract

This study explores the effects of family, education, economic, and personal factors on students’ decisions to pursue engineering as a profession and their long-term impact on performance as engineering students. We adopted a mixed-method approach, collecting data through surveys administered to undergraduate and graduate engineering students at Mississippi State University. The study results revealed that family, education, economic, and personal factors profoundly influence students' decisions to study engineering. We found that parental expectations, background information, and socioeconomic status, in conjunction with cultural norms, values, gender expectations, and religious beliefs, affect students. Additionally, this study identified gaps in the existing literature concerning the detailed impacts of family and culture on students' choice of engineering disciplines. Theories such as socialization theory and cultural capital theory provided frameworks that guided the study design and data analysis procedures, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative investigation techniques. Our findings assist engineering educators, policymakers, and practitioners in fostering equitable, inclusive, and diverse educational approaches that can ultimately enhance students’ academic performance and well-being.

Recommended Citation

Larif, Oumaima, "An in depth examination of educational, family, economic, and personal determinants on academic performance, engagement, and stress: A comprehensive study among engineering students" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 6523.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/6523