Communication Helps Parent Relationships With New College Students But Has Limits

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

When young adults first go off to college, more communication with parents generally leads to better relationships, but parents should avoid always initiating it, according to a study led by Washington State University researchers.

In a paper published in the journal Emerging Adulthood, WSU Assistant Professor Jennifer Duckworth and co-authors found that phone, text, video or in-person communication made first-year students feel better about the relationship with their parents. Students also felt better about the relationship when parents offered support or advice, and when they discussed important topics, such as studying and friendships. However, researchers found negative associations when parents initiated nearly all of the communication.

“That could be indicative of over-involved parenting,” said Duckworth, a faculty member in WSU’s human development department. “It can be a fine line, but students with so-called ‘helicopter parents’ could have a more negative view of their relationship with those parents.”

The research shows that it’s beneficial for parents to regularly stay involved in students’ lives, provide support and discuss topics important to students without overwhelming them.

“Text messages are great for a quick check-in that can be very beneficial to the relationship quality,” Duckworth said. “If a student feels they have a good relationship, that’s indicative of well-being and positive behaviors like more studying and less alcohol and drug use.”

The study also shows that frequent communication improves the relationship between familial units.

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240903144919.htm