Citation

Paul EL, Poole A, Jakubowyc N. J. Coll. Stud. Dev. 1998; 39(1): 75-86.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, American College Personnel Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Assessments of romantic relationship status, intimacy development, and psychological distress were administered to 325 students during week II of their first semester of college. The mean and modal age of the sample was 18 (84%). Of the sample 61.0% were female and 37.0% were male; 77.0% were White, 5.5% were Black, 5.2% were Hispanic, 2.5% were Asian American, and 1.8% were Native American. Participants responded to a romantic status questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States, and the Intimacy versus Isolation subscale of the Measures of Psychosocial Development. Toward the end of their first semester college students who have unadvanced intimacy development and who try to maintain a precollege romantic relationship into college or have had little to no romantic relationship experience suffer significantly lower psychological well-being compared to other new college students. Suggestions are provided for assisting students with college transition challenges.