The influence of family cohesion and relational maintenance strategies on stress in first semester college students

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examined the influence of family cohesion and relational maintenance strategies on students’ experiences of stress in their first semesters of college. One hundred and ninety-eight first-year college students completed measures assessing family cohesion, relational maintenance behaviors (i.e., shared tasks, shared networks, positivity, openness), and stress (i.e., academic, social, personal emotional). Results indicated that family cohesion is negatively related to students’ experiences of academic, social, and personal emotional stress. Further, regression analyses demonstrated the additional influence of relational maintenance behaviors on student stress. Analyses failed to support mediating relationships; however, results highlighted the significance of both family cohesion and relational maintenance strategies on academic, social, and personal emotional stress in first semester college students.