Graduate Program

College Student Affairs

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2007

Thesis Director

Charles Eberly

Thesis Committee Member

Barbara Powell

Thesis Committee Member

James Wallace

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the potential relationship between incoming freshmen parental marital status and students' first-year adjustment to college. The PI saw a need for this study because of the lack of previous research directly connecting the two above variables. Numerous researchers have investigated the negative effects of parental divorce; the importance of one's parents during the transition to college has also been well documented. For the purpose of this study, the PI sought to examine a potential link between the two, assuming children of divorce would experience more difficulties adjusting to college life than children from intact marriages.

Through various data collection methods, 62 first-year students participated in the study. Students completed a demographic questionnaire about their parental marital status and the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ). Due to the low sample size, the Kruskal-Wallis rank test for statistical significance was performed. While the results of this study were not statistically significant, the present study adds to the growing body of literature on the topic. Recommendations for future researchers are included as continued investigation is needed. Whether empirically founded or not, parental divorce is an issue that remains salient for children regardless of their age and student affairs professionals must be aware of the potential adjustment problems that college students could be experiencing.

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