Citation

Counts CJ, John-Henderson NA. J. Am. Coll. Health 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-6.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology , Montana State University , Bozeman , Montana , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2018.1557198

PMID

30681936

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between risk in family environments and health-relevant outcomes in college and the role of loneliness. PARTICIPANTS: College students at a state university (N = 360).

METHODS: We utilized linear regression to examine relationships between risk in family environments and loneliness, perceived stress, affect, and self-rated health. We tested for indirect effects of risk in family environments on outcomes through loneliness Results: Analyses showed that risk in family environments associated with loneliness (β = 0.12 t[358] = 2.22, p =.03, R² change =.02), perceived social stress (β = 0.20, t[357] = 3.88, p < 0.001, R² change =.04), negative and positive affect (β = 2.44, t[357] = 3.95, p <.001, R² change =.04), and (β = -0.18 t[357]= -3.44, p =.001, R² change =.03 respectively), and self-rated health (β = 0.19, t[359] = 4.57, p <.001, R² change =.10). Significant indirect effects were observed for risk in early family on all outcomes through loneliness.

CONCLUSION: These findings provide initial evidence that risk in childhood family environments may negatively affect health by increasing loneliness in college students.

Language: en

Keywords

Affect; college; early family environments; loneliness; self-rated health; stress