Social support: main and moderating effects on the relation between financial stress and adjustment among college students with disabilities

Abstract

Students with disabilities are underrepresented in 4-year colleges and universities in the United States and those that do attend are at an increased risk of performing poorly in these settings. These difficulties for college students with disabilities may be compounded by additional stress related to financial concerns. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of social support on the adjustment of college students with disabilities generally, and among college students experiencing financial stress specifically. Results indicated that two types of social support (total support and satisfaction with support) had positive effects on the post-secondary adjustment of college students with disabilities. Moreover, both forms of support moderated the effects of financial stress on some, but not all, indicators of adjustment. The implications of these findings for future research and practice are discussed.