Journal Article

Parent and Friend Relationship Quality and Links to Trajectories of Loneliness During the First Year of College

Peris, Tara S, Sedykin, Anna, Calderon Leon, Maria D, Waizman, Yael H, Silvers, Jennifer A, Guassi Moreira, João F, Saragosa-Harris, Natalie M

2024

Overview

Beginning college involves changes that can increase one’s vulnerability to loneliness and associated negative outcomes. Parent and friend relationships are potential protective factors against loneliness given their positive association with adjustment. The present longitudinal study, with data collection at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months later, assessed the comparative effects of self-reported parent and friend relationship quality on loneliness in first-year college students (N = 101; 80 female, Mage = 18.36). At baseline, parent and friend relationship quality were negatively associated with loneliness. Longitudinal data revealed that friend relationship quality interacted with time, such that its effects on loneliness attenuated over the course of 2 months. By contrast, parent relationship quality continued to predict lower loneliness 2 months post-baseline. These results highlight the importance of close relationships and suggest that targeting relationship quality could be effective in helping youth transition to college.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adjustment / Adolescents / Child & adolescent psychiatry / Child development / College Freshmen / College students / Colleges & universities / Data collection / Data quality / Depression (Psychology) / Expectation / Family Involvement / Family Role / First year / Friendship / Interpersonal relations / Interpersonal Relationship / Loneliness / Longitudinal studies / Parent Participation / Parent Role / Parent-child relations / Parents & parenting / Protective factors / Psychopathology / Quality / Social Environment / Social Support Groups / Time / Well Being / Young adults