According to developmental research, peer relationships serve a positive function in children's, adolescents', and adults' lives. We expected that peer relationships would also benefit emerging adults as they transition into college. Using friendship quality and attachment measures, we examined the link between the closeness of peer relationships (with high school and college friends) and adjustment outcomes (academic, social, emotional, and institutional attachment) among 271 first-year college students. Results suggest that a close relationship with a high school friend is beneficial during the first weeks of college, but later in the first semester there are more benefits to having a close relationship with a new college friend.

Individual and contextual predictors of preferences for solving everyday problems alone and in collaboration with others were investigated in a sample community-dwelling older adults (M age7 1.80 years, SDˆ5.78, rangeˆ56-87, 51 men, 56 women). Gender differences in problem-solving preferences were found in gender-stereotyped domains (e.g., meal-preparation; house repair). In several problem domains, more positive social comparisons of problem-solving ability were related to greater preferences for solving problems alone and lesser preferences for solving problems with others. Marital status, temporal comparisons of ability, and perceived health and control were related to problem-solving preferences in some problem domains. Results are discussed from a contextual perspective that focuses on the t between individuals' personal and social resources and their preferred approaches to solving everyday problems.

This study examined the relationship between parental attachment, changes in parental attachment, and psychological functioning and adjustment for college freshmen. Twice during the first semester, 271 freshmen completed self-report measures of parental attachment, psychological distress, self-competence, and college adjustment. Higher attachment security was associated with more positive outcomes for both men and women. Although individual differences in parental attachment remained consistent across the first semester, attachment security decreased for male students who lived at home. Students whose relationships with parents deteriorated over time had higher levels of distress and lower adjustment scores. Implications for college counselors are discussed.

Older adults' preferred partners for collaborative everyday problem solving and the types of everyday problems solved alone and with others were examined in a sample of community dwelling older adults (N = 112, M age = 71.86 yrs., SD = 5.92 yrs.). Family members (i.e., spouses, adult children) were the most frequently nominated partners for collaborative everyday problem solving, but friends, neighbors, and church members also were nominated. Older adults reported that they solved numerous types of problems, including finance, house repair, and health, in collaboration with others. These problems were also prominent when older adults reported the problems that they consulted others for advice on how to solve and the problems they solved alone. Together the results suggest new directions for research on collaborative everyday problem solving in terms of the types of interpersonal relationships and problems to be investigated. Implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed in terms of how to best understand and promote successful aging.

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