Comparing residence hall and independent living settings

Abstract

The social environments of residence halls and independent off-campus living settings (such as apartments and houses) were compared. The off-campus settings had as much emphasis on cohesion and emotional support, and had more emphasis on independence, academic achievement, and the enhancement of intellectual and cultural pursuits. Despite these differences, students who stayed in residence halls throughout their four years of college, as compared to those who moved into independent housing, had higher educational aspirations and performed better academically, although they were somewhat more conservative and traditional (higher religious concern, more participation in campus activities, less alcohol consumption and impulse expression). Additional analyses indicated that college living settings influence differential student change and that some of their “effects” occur because students tend to select and create settings which help them to maintain their preferred personal characteristics.