The Relationship Between Attachment Orientations and University Adjustment Among Freshmen: Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

Abstract

In the current study, we examine the novel hypothesis that perceived stress is a mechanism through which the relationship between attachment orientations and university adjustment can be explained. Present study explored both attachment orientations and perceived stress regarding adjustment; and perceived stress as mediator for the relationship between attachment orientations and adjustment among in 277 university freshmen. Attachment anxiety and avoidance positively correlated with perceived stress whereas resulted in poor university adjustment. Perceived stress partially mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and poor university adjustment. The findings suggest that enhancing attachment security and stress management skills among insecurely attached students may lead to greater university adjustment.

Why Some Students Adjust Easily While Others Can Not? Stress and Adjustment to University: Personality as Moderator

“…Transition to university is a situation that triggers stress since it includes significant stressors like separating from established social networks, leaving parental home, developing skills in independent living and formation of new social ties as well as more complex academic demands (Cheng et al., 2014; Maunder, 2018; Meehan & Howells, 2019). Students experiencing higher levels of perceived stress or anxiety show poor adjustment results when compared to their counterparts; they are prone to unhealthy behaviors (Dusselier et al., 2005; Palai & Kumar, 2016), seem to experience more depressive symptoms, report inadequate social support (Kural & Özyurt, 2020), and show lower achievement (Leppink et al., 2016).…”