Publication year: 2011
Source: The Internet and Higher Education, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 13 June 2011
David C., DeAndrea , Nicole B., Ellison , Robert, LaRose , Charles, Steinfield , Andrew, Fiore
A considerable body of research indicates that social support plays an integral role in determining students’ successful adjustment to college. Unlike previous research that has evaluated face-to-face support interventions that occur during students’ first semester at college, the current study reports on a student-centered social media site designed to enhance students’ perceptions of social support prior to their arrival on campus. Results indicated that site usage increased students’ perceptions that they would have a diverse social support network during their first semester at college, even when controlling for other potent predictors. The importance of social support perceptions for college adjustment…