Career vocation, academic adjustment, and student retention: effects of career leveling on students of Physical Education and Sports Sciences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v77.118498Keywords:
Physical Education, leveling, retention, vocationAbstract
Introduction: Student retention in higher education has constituted a significant challenge, especially in Physical Education and Sport Sciences programs, where professional vocation and academic adjustment influence the continuity of studies.
Objective: To analyze the relationship between professional vocation, academic adjustment, and student retention, as well as to evaluate the effect of career leveling among students of Physical Education and Sport Sciences.
Methodology: A quantitative, non-experimental study was conducted with a cross-sectional design and an exploratory, correlational, and explanatory scope. The sample consisted of 286 first-year students. Validated questionnaires were applied to measure professional vocation, academic adjustment, career leveling, and student retention. The analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple regression.
Results: The results showed high levels of professional vocation, academic adjustment, and student retention. Positive and significant relationships among the variables were identified. Academic adjustment emerged as the main predictor of retention, followed by professional vocation and career leveling, jointly explaining a substantial proportion of the variance.
Discussion: The findings were consistent with previous research highlighting the importance of vocation and academic adjustment in university retention, and they provided specific evidence of the positive effect of career leveling in this disciplinary field.
Conclusions: It is concluded that the integration of professional vocation, academic adjustment, and career leveling strengthens student retention and guides the design of institutional strategies for retention in higher education.
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