Students at Risk: sociodemographic variables and university dropout

Authors

  • Paula Paulino Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab: Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas – Portugal / Universidade de Lisboa, CICPSI: Centro de Investigação em Ciência Psicológica – Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8249-5366
  • Sónia Vladimira Correia Universidade Lusófona, CIDEFES- Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Educação Física, Exercício e Saúde – Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2722-5253
  • Bárbara Gonzalez Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab: Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas – Portugal / Universidade de Lisboa, CICPSI: Centro de Investigação em Ciência Psicológica – Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5142-256X
  • Teresa Mendes Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab: Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas – Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4218-2765
  • Sara Albuquerque Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab: Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas – Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0687-1352

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/2175-6236143245vs01

Keywords:

Dropout Intentions, Higher Education, Sociodemographic Contexts

Abstract

Nearly 30% of Portuguese university students drop out, posing a significant challenge with long-term consequences. This study aimed to identify socio-demographic, economic, and academic factors linked to higher dropout intentions, which is especially relevant in a post-pandemic era. It involved 1,404 respondents, mainly women under 25, selected through a convenience quota method. Higher dropout intentions were observed among men, displaced students, caregivers, and those studying Languages and Humanities. The findings offer insights into dropout complexity and provide recommendations for academic institutions to address this issue.

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Author Biographies

Paula Paulino, Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab: Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas – Portugal / Universidade de Lisboa, CICPSI: Centro de Investigação em Ciência Psicológica – Portugal

Paula Paulino is Assistant Professor at Lusofona University, Lisbon. PhD in Educational Psychology (Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon). She is a researcher at the Research Centre for Psychological Sciences (CICPSI, FPUL) and at the HEI-Lab: Digital Human Environment Interaction Lab (HEI-Lab, ULHT). She has authored several papers in international scientific journals, book chapters and peer-reviewed conferences, she is also associate editor and reviewer of international journals and her main research interests are achievement motivation, self-regulated learning, university dropout and cyberbullying.

Sónia Vladimira Correia , Universidade Lusófona, CIDEFES- Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Educação Física, Exercício e Saúde – Portugal

Sónia Vladimira Correia is Sociologist, Assistant Professor at Lusófona University, Lisbon. PhD in Social Sciences, Sociology. She is a researcher at CIDEFES (Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Educação Física, Exercício e Saúde). She is certified by OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation and former Chair of Socioeconomic Inequalities SIG on Chair of the Special Interest Group Socioeconomic Inequalities on the International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA). Her main research interest are gender, social inclusion, education, and social policies.

Bárbara Gonzalez , Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab: Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas – Portugal / Universidade de Lisboa, CICPSI: Centro de Investigação em Ciência Psicológica – Portugal

Bárbara Gonzalez is an Assistant Professor at Lusófona University and an Integrated Researcher at HEI-Lab. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and has been doing research mostly within the scope of personality, psychopathology, and health. 

Teresa Mendes, Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab: Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas – Portugal

Teresa Mendes PhD in Clinical Psychology, is an Assistant professor at Universidade Lusófona and a member of HEI-Lab. She develops clinical and research activities in the areas of family psychology, human development, and health.

Sara Albuquerque, Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab: Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas – Portugal

Sara Albuquerque (PhD) is an Assistant Professor at Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon, Portugal. She is currently the coordinator and a clinical psychologist of the Grief and Trauma Consultation at the PIN Clinical Center - at all stages of life (in Lisbon), which mainly focuses on the assessment and intervention with children, adolescents, and adults in grief and traumatic events. She has psychotherapeutic training in grief and trauma. She also conducts several workshops on grief and emotional regulation.

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Published

2025-12-13

How to Cite

Paulino, P., Correia , S. V., Gonzalez , B., Mendes, T., & Albuquerque, S. (2025). Students at Risk: sociodemographic variables and university dropout. Educação & Realidade [Education & Reality], 50. https://doi.org/10.1590/2175-6236143245vs01

Issue

Vol. 50 (2025)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Educação & Realidade [Education & Reality]

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This journal uses Creative Commons license Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).

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