This longitudinal study tested the hypothesis that social identity support would predict the long-term status of first-year college friendships. Social identity support refers to perceived support for valued aspects of the self that are related to identification with social groups, categories, and roles. First-year undergraduates (N = 100) reported levels of closeness, contact, general support, and social identity support for new same-sex friendships. Logistic regression analyses indicated, as expected, that social identity support predicted whether or not a new friend would be a best friend 4 years later, after controlling for initial levels of closeness, contact, and general relationship-specific social support. Social identity support, however, did not predict status as a mere friend at follow-up. The results regarding best friend status suggest that social identity support may be a unique form of social support that contributes to the development of close relationships.
Associations between conflict in the family of origin and children's adjustment are well documented. This study examined the extent to which the positive and negative emotions college students feel when they think about their families mediates the association between family conflict and social adjustment. College students (N ϭ 174) completed measures of family and interparental conflict, their feelings about their families, and social adjustment (i.e., dating competence, assertiveness, and social intimacy). A structural equation model indicated an association between conflict in one's family of origin and social adjustment that was mediated by the positive and negative emotions college students reported feeling about their families. A multiplegroups analysis demonstrated that this mediation model fit well for college students from both divorced and nondivorced families. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
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