The role of family in university drop out cases facing social and family related difficulties

Resumen

University drop out cases are currently one of the main problems of higher education system because of multiple socioeconomic consequences. When looking for improvements in the educational systems, family implication were considered a significant index. Both family and school are educational agents playing a highly relevant role in the education of the students. Their relationships favour and enrich the educative process, with the main objective to value the role of the family and its influence on the university drop out cases.When presenting this research, our main focus is on the identification of determining social and family related difficulties and how these affected students (temporary or definitive drop out). The sample amounts to 86 students corresponding to the degrees of Pedagogy and Physical Activity and Sports, at the Faculty of Educational Science of the University of Seville. To collect data, an ad hoc questionnaire has been designed to take into account variables such as the type of experienced difficulties or family support. Data analysis has been used the statistical software SPSS v. 22, which allowed us to validate the questionnaire through a factorial analysis. The results show different social and family related difficulties in 72% of student cases and confirm family as a key agent in situations where there is a risk of drop out. These families provide both emotional and economic support. The academic support provided by the family is almost non-existent. Highlighting the joint help applied by the mother and the father when facing difficulties, the mother represents the most involved agent. On the other hand, the interpretation of the results shows higher presence of temporary drop out rather than a definitive one. According to students comprising the sample, family support facilitates continuing in their studies.