Parent and Peer Relationship Quality Correlates With Loneliness During the College Transition
Authors: Maria D. Calderon Leon*, João F. Guassi Moreira, Natalie Saragosa-Harris, Yael Waizman, Anna Sedykin, Tara S. Peris, Ph.D., & Jennifer A. Silvers, Ph.D.
Abstract: The transition to college involves many changes such as entering
a new social environment. Consequently, individuals are particularly
vulnerable to loneliness, which in turn affects physical, psychological,
and academic outcomes. Therefore, it is vital to understand what factors
may buffer against loneliness. Relationships with parents and friends are
potential protective factors against loneliness. We explored how loneliness
varies depending on parent and friend relationship quality. Specifically,
we hypothesized a negative association between parent and friend
relationship quality and loneliness. One hundred college freshmen completed
self-report measures to assess loneliness and relationship quality. Results
showed that higher parent and friend relationship quality were each
independently associated with lower feelings of loneliness (Parent
relationship quality: b= -0.29, S.E.= 0.05, t= -5.68, p< .001; Friend
relationship quality: b= -0.51, S.E.= 0.06, t= -8.31, p< .001). These
results highlight the importance of close relationships and suggest that
targeting relationship quality could be effective in mitigating loneliness
during the transition to college.