Age Differences Explain Social Class Differences In Students’ Friendship At University: Implications For Transition And Retention

Keywords

First-generation students; Friendship; Social class; Social inclusion; Social integration; Socioeconomic status

Abstract

The present research tested the hypotheses that (a) working-class students have fewer friends at university than middle-class students and (b) this social class difference occurs because working-class students tend to be older than middle-class students. A sample of 376 first-year undergraduate students from an Australian university completed an online survey that contained measures of social class and age as well as quality and quantity of actual and desired friendship at university. Consistent with predictions, age differences significantly mediated social class differences in friendship. The discussion focuses on potential policy implications for improving working-class students’ friendships at university in order to improve their transition and retention.

Publication Date

9-2-2015

Publication Title

Higher Education

Volume

70

Issue

3

Number of Pages

427-439

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-014-9844-8

Socpus ID

84940718116 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84940718116

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