Resilience in Context: From low-opportunity environments to academic belonging

The current study investigates how structural neighborhood conditions, specifically defined by the Child Opportunity Index (COI), shape first-year college student’s adjustment and sense of belonging. Using a mixed methods design, the research combines quantitative data from 74 students at William & Mary with qualitative interviews from a subsample of students from low-COI backgrounds. Quantitative findings revealed high overall levels of resilience, school bonding, and belonging across the sample. However, no significant relationships were found between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and other variables. The ACEs scores from the subsample of students from low-COI areas was statistically significantly higher than the participants from non-low-COI areas. Qualitative data offered deeper insight into these students’ experiences, highlighting themes of financial hardship, intrinsic drive, and faculty connection. The findings underscore the importance of understanding student development through both an environmental and institutional lens, with implications for admissions, support services, and policy reforms aimed at fostering equity and inclusion in higher education.