Commensality and Academic Performance: Measuring Peer Acceptance among College Students
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| Title: | Commensality and Academic Performance: Measuring Peer Acceptance among College Students |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Jinxi Wen, Wenjing Lyu, Jin Liu, Li Yang |
| Source: | npj Science of Learning. 2025 10. |
| Availability: | Nature Portfolio. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.nature.com/npjscilearn/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 15 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Academic Achievement, Peer Acceptance, College Students, Peer Relationship, Gender Differences, Activism, Class Rank, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41539-025-00357-8 |
| ISSN: | 2056-7936 |
| Abstract: | Peer relationships play a critical role in academic performance, yet their link in higher education remains underexplored. This study introduces commensality--shared mealtimes--as a novel proxy for peer acceptance and examines its relationship with academic outcomes across student groups. Using 2,717,938 transaction records from 3355 first-year undergraduates at a prestigious Chinese university, we developed "commensality value" metrics to quantitatively measure peer relationships. Regression analyses reveal that peer acceptance, particularly from peers who are more physically distant, is positively correlated with academic performance. This correlation is stronger among male students, politically active students, former class leaders, and those with politically active parents. These findings highlight the potential benefits of strong peer relationships and suggest that promoting environments that encourage peer commensality could be a valuable strategy for universities to explore. By bridging gaps in the literature, this study introduces innovative metrics and advances the understanding of the peer academic success. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Notes: | https://osf.io/4cuf9 |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1491166 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Peer relationships play a critical role in academic performance, yet their link in higher education remains underexplored. This study introduces commensality--shared mealtimes--as a novel proxy for peer acceptance and examines its relationship with academic outcomes across student groups. Using 2,717,938 transaction records from 3355 first-year undergraduates at a prestigious Chinese university, we developed "commensality value" metrics to quantitatively measure peer relationships. Regression analyses reveal that peer acceptance, particularly from peers who are more physically distant, is positively correlated with academic performance. This correlation is stronger among male students, politically active students, former class leaders, and those with politically active parents. These findings highlight the potential benefits of strong peer relationships and suggest that promoting environments that encourage peer commensality could be a valuable strategy for universities to explore. By bridging gaps in the literature, this study introduces innovative metrics and advances the understanding of the peer academic success. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2056-7936 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41539-025-00357-8 |
