Peer Support and Adjustment Among First-Year Students at University

Abstract

Peer support and adjustment among first-year students at university will help them overcome difficulties they face in their academic journey. The challenges facing first-year students at the university include home sickness, freedom of transition to university life, time management, budgeting, partying, and the cost of education. The current study adopted literature review as the methodology in order to analyze secondary data. The researcher sought to objectively and rationally review empirical studies from reputable education sites such as Google Scholar, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), and JSTOR. The data were analyzed qualitatively by using content analysis where only the main ideas of the key findings were considered. The study established that parental and peer support received among first-year students have contributed towards their adjustment at universities.

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“…By focusing on identity development, Chickering identified seven vectors of development namely, developing autonomy achieving a sense of competence, developing a sense of purpose managing emotions, establishing one's own identity, interacting with others with increasing tolerance, and clarifying a personal and consistent set of beliefs. The shift from secondary school learning environment to the university has with it new experiences, changes and expectations and new responsibilities which require adjustment process among first year students (Buote, 2006). When first year students are admitted to university, they are expected to fit to the new demands that are presented by the university environment and also to maintain a harmonious relationship with the new environment and other students (Abdullah & Elias, 2009).…”