| Popis: |
The transition from adolescence into adulthood is an understudied yet important phase of development. For many individuals, this transitional stage involves profound sociocultural adjustments, including the transition to college. The beginning of college often involves both challenges and opportunities as one adjusts to new academic and social environments. Individuals may be particularly vulnerable to loneliness during this transition, putting them at risk for both psychological and academic difficulties. Parent and friend relationships are potential protective factors against loneliness given their positive association with psychosocial adjustment. The present longitudinal study assessed the comparative effects of self-reported parent and friend relationship quality on loneliness, both at baseline and over time using 292 longitudinal data points, in a cohort of first-year college students (N = 101 individuals). At baseline, parent and friend relationship quality were negatively associated with loneliness. The magnitude of the association between friend relationship quality and loneliness was stronger than parent relationship quality and loneliness. Longitudinal data revealed that friend, but not parent, relationship quality interacted with the passage of time, such that the effects of friend relationship quality on loneliness attenuated over the course of two months. By contrast, parent relationship quality continued to predict lower loneliness two months post-baseline. These results highlight the importance of close relationships and suggest that targeting relationship quality – particularly with parents– could be effective in helping youth transition out of the home successfully. Findings are discussed in terms of potential avenues for prevention and intervention aimed at optimizing successful adjustments to college. |
