Social support and academic success for college students with disabilities: Do relationship types matter?

BACKGROUND: College students with disabilities continue to experience difficulties adjusting to the academic and social demands of university life despite an increase in recognition by postsecondary institutions. OBJECTIVE: Social support for college students with disabilities is the focus of this s...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 1 - 14
Autores principales: Lombardi, Allison, Murray, Christopher, Kowitt, Jennifer
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Sage Publications Inc. 2016
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: College students with disabilities continue to experience difficulties adjusting to the academic and social demands of university life despite an increase in recognition by postsecondary institutions. OBJECTIVE: Social support for college students with disabilities is the focus of this study. METHODS: Relationship types - specifically parent, peer, and partner supports - were examined in order to clarify their impact on the academic success of college students with disabilities at a four-year university (n = 200). RESULTS:Anexamination of main and moderating effects showed relationship types have differential effects on academic success outcomes, specifically college grade point average and self-reported educational, practical, and social/emotional gains. For certain outcomes, parent, peer, and partner support buffered the negative effects of course efficacy and social support satisfaction. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that certain relationship types can make meaningful differences in positively affecting college experiences of student with disabilities, and illustrate the importance of considering relationship types and quality of social support in future research on social networks. Implications for disability services providers and secondary transition educators are discussed.