How Parental Attachment Influences College Students’ Social Domains

Abstract

We investigated how parental continued attachment was related to college students’ social provision areas during the early phases of college to better understand student persistence factors. Using a sample of undergraduate students ( N = 419), we applied structural equation modeling and found that mother and father continued attachment affects the social provisions of students in different ways. Mother attachment was related to nurturance and emotional connection, whereas father attachment was related to worth, guidance, alliance, and emotional connection. These relational and social provision areas may serve as influence factors related to college student persistence. Limitations and implications for student persistence, development, researchers, and educators are discussed.