NCJ Number
224915
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Research Volume: 23 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2008 Pages: 745-769
Date Published
November 2008
Length
25 pages
Annotation
An assessment was conducted on freshmen students at six Canadian universities on the quality of match between their individual needs and their university environment.
Abstract
Although the majority of the first-year students participating in this study experienced an appropriate match between their developmental needs and the academic, personal, and social opportunities provided by their university environment, some did not. These students deregistered, possibly in search of a better peer-environment fit (PEF) elsewhere, that is, one that provides greater self-fulfillment and better expression of their identity. The findings from the Student-University Match (SUM) questionnaire suggests that students attending small city, smaller residential universities scored higher on SUM than those attending large commuter schools in a metropolitan area. The establishment of the SUM scale indicates that contextual factors, such as the nature of the university student body, environmental surroundings, organizational climate, and institutional size, may influence the degree of match a student experiences with their university. Given that emerging adulthood as a phenomenon has been partially defined by an increase in the number of students attending postsecondary schools and subsequent delays in entering the workplace, it seems that knowledge about the adjustment to university is critical to understanding promising developmental processes in emerging adulthood. Freshman students at six Canadian universities completed questionnaires to assess the quality of match between their individual needs and their university environment. The SUM questionnaire was developed and demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. Tables and references