University engagement of dental students related to educational environment: A transnational study

Abstract

To investigate the validity and reliability of the University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) in its complete and reduced versions with Brazilian and USA students, and to evaluate the influence of gender and academic level on students’ university engagement in both countries. Methods A cross-sectional observational study with a non-probability sample was conducted. The sample comprised dental students of both genders, 154 from a university in New York, USA (response rate 91.1%) and 459 from two universities in Brazil (response rate 79.1%). University engagement was measured using the USEI. The samples were characterized by gender and academic level. Results The refined reduced version of the USEI presented adequate fit to the samples from both countries. Gender was associated with the behavioral engagement factor of the USEI in Brazilian students. In the USA sample, gender was associated with the behavioral and cognitive engagement factors. There was a significant effect of academic level on behavioral and emotional engagement for the Brazilian and USA samples, respectively. Conclusion The refined reduced USEI presented adequate psychometric qualities for the study samples.