Who makes a better university adjustment wingman: Parents or friends?

The first year of university is one of the most difficult times in a student's life due to numerous changes that occur. This cross-sectional study explores the concept of parental and peer attachment, which has been researched for its ability to predict students' success in higher educatio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2023-12, Vol.18 (12), p.e0294658-e0294658
Main Authors: Wider, Walton, Tanucan, Jem Cloyd M, Lin, Jiaming, Jiang, Leilei, Udang, Lester Naces
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic achievement
Adjustment
Adult
Attachment
Biology and Life Sciences
Child development
College students
Colleges & universities
Cross-Sectional Studies
Education
Education parks
Education, Higher
Evaluation
Exploration
Friends
Higher education institutions
Humans
Identity formation
Mediation
Parenting
Parents
Parents & parenting
Peers
People and Places
Psychological aspects
Research and Analysis Methods
School facilities
Social aspects
Social networks
Social Sciences
Student adjustment
Students
Teenagers
Universities
Young adults
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The first year of university is one of the most difficult times in a student's life due to numerous changes that occur. This cross-sectional study explores the concept of parental and peer attachment, which has been researched for its ability to predict students' success in higher education. Yet, less research has investigated the mechanisms underpinning the relationship between attachment and university adjustment among first-year students. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of parent and peer attachment on first-year university students, and understand how these attachments can facilitate university adjustment through identity exploration. This investigation is underpinned by Bowlby and Ainsworth's attachment theory and Arnett's emerging adulthood theory. Data were collected from 568 first-year students at a public university in Sabah, Malaysia, via adapted questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was employed using SmartPLS Software 3.0 to analyse the data. The study found that identity exploration mediates the relationship between parental trust, peer communication, and university adjustment. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for professionals working with emerging adult clients, especially those in higher education institutions, aiming to enhance the adjustment level among first-year students.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0294658