Peer Relationships and Sense of Belonging in the Transition to College
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| Title: | Peer Relationships and Sense of Belonging in the Transition to College |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Blake Glatley, J. Ashwin Rambaran, Kaelyn Sabree, Allison Ryan, Kyle Walton, Christine Modey |
| Source: | Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: A Peer Relations Journal. 2025 71(1):34-62. |
| Availability: | Wayne State University Press. The Leonard N. Simons Building, 4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309. Tel: 800-978-7323; Fax: 313-577-6131; Web site: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/mpq/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 29 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | School Transition, Student Adjustment, Sense of Belonging, Social Networks, College Freshmen, Peer Relationship, Racial Identification, Predominantly White Institutions, Residential Programs, Classroom Environment |
| ISSN: | 0272-930X 1535-0266 |
| Abstract: | The transition to college presents challenges for students as they form new peer relationships while experiencing varying degrees of belonging within the college community. This study investigated with cross-sectional social network analysis how self-reports of residential program and classroom belonging associated with social and academic networks among a sample of first-year college students (N = 1,125) participating in residential college programs. Analyses revealed that, controlling for each other, residential program belonging but not classroom belonging was significantly associated with students' social and academic networks. Additionally, after accounting for other factors, underrepresented minority students, particularly Black and multiracial students with low residential program belonging, were more likely than White students to hang out with peers across the broader residential college community. Findings highlight the importance of students' sense of belonging for relationships with peers in the transition to college. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Access URL: | https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/mpq/vol71/iss1/2 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1507870 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | The transition to college presents challenges for students as they form new peer relationships while experiencing varying degrees of belonging within the college community. This study investigated with cross-sectional social network analysis how self-reports of residential program and classroom belonging associated with social and academic networks among a sample of first-year college students (N = 1,125) participating in residential college programs. Analyses revealed that, controlling for each other, residential program belonging but not classroom belonging was significantly associated with students' social and academic networks. Additionally, after accounting for other factors, underrepresented minority students, particularly Black and multiracial students with low residential program belonging, were more likely than White students to hang out with peers across the broader residential college community. Findings highlight the importance of students' sense of belonging for relationships with peers in the transition to college. |
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| ISSN: | 0272-930X 1535-0266 |
