FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, 1996

                         PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL (0620); PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL (0451); SOCIOLOGY, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY STUDIES (0628)
 

                         A two-year longitudinal study was conducted to investigate late adolescents in transition. An initial
                         investigation with senior high school students assessed students prior to leaving home for college and
                         after college entrance. Of the original 131 participants recontacted two years after their graduation, 78
                         returned surveys. The study (a) explored changes in social network structure and function, (b)
                         determined whether late adolescent-parent-peer relations change over time, and (c) identified
                         prospectively the impact of social support, adolescent-parent-peer relations, and attachment security on
                         well-being and feelings about the transition after high school. Students attending college locally
                         reported an increase in total network support at Time 2. Regardless of location, more support from
                         friends was received after the transition from high school, whereas family support did not vary across
                         time. Parent relations were closer after the transition and were predictive of various well-being measures
                         and feelings about the transition from high school.

Social Systems Simulation Group P.O. Box 6904 San Diego, CA  92166-0904 Roland Werner, Principal Phone/FAX  (619) 660-1603