170 in measuring sense of community (Jason et al., 2015). The large contribution of perceived available belonging support to the variance of sense of community was a novel finding.
Sense of community in residences contributed a large proportion of the variance in contact with distal co-residents, while university sense of community had a positive, medium size of effect on the variance in psychological well-being.
In summary, academically (emerging-adult work domain) and individually (emerging- adult self-domain), all relocated undergraduate participants were progressing well with the developmental tasks of achieving eventual financial independence and self-actualisation.
However, on variables within the emerging-adult relationships domain, participants in colleges generally outperformed those in flats, share houses, and “villages”. Undergraduates residing in a flat, share house, or “village” have fewer opportunities to interact with as many co-residents as those in colleges. Considering the pervasive, positive effects of perceived available belonging support on the measures of academic success and psychosocial well- being, relocated students, would be ill advised, for this alone, to reside in a flat for their first year.
171 residences, and comparing the effects of factors associated with residences on developmental risks, tasks, and supports.
Perceived available social support, domestic support, and greeting network are salient factors for relocated undergraduates, especially in the first year of leaving the family home.
So, too, is the use of oral English for international students. This thesis contributes statistically obtained evidence that levels of such factors differ significantly between residences, that is, a flat, share house, college, or “village” and are not entirely related to student capacity. While colleges have greater capacity than do flats and share houses, they have typically less than half that of “villages”. Study Two found that the higher level of perceived available social support in colleges compared with “villages” is significant while Study Three found greater perceived available belonging support in colleges close to significantly different from that in “villages”.
Perceived available belonging support in share houses was the same as in flats, while sense of community was higher. When perceived available belonging support in share houses is evaluated in combination with sense of community, results suggest that residents perceived co-residents as a congenial group, or entity, rather than as individuals with whom to interact for belonging support. As did Suitor (2014), this thesis finds that levels of factors associated with residence are not entirely related to greater residence capacity.
Meaning-in-life affects the mental health of typical relocated undergraduates. The finding confirms previous research, such that as presence of meaning-in-life increases, so psychological distress decreases. However, as search for meaning-in-life increases, so too does psychological distress.
A novel research scale (ISS) was constructed and tested as a measure of integrated support. Integrated support consists of constructs of the environmental characteristics of an entity, namely, physical comfort, ease of communication, commonality of purpose, and
172 interpersonal care. Study Three (Chapter 5) shows that integrated support is strongly
associated with perceived available belonging support, sense of community in relocated undergraduates’ residences, and contact with distal co-residents.
Consistent with the finding that low social support and sense of community are factors contributing to the psychological distress of emerging-adult students (Suitor, 2014), the strengths-based approach of Study Three (Chapter 5) shows that increases in both perceived available belonging support associated with residence, and sense of community at university, are associated with greater psychological well-being. Well-being is in the emerging-adult Self-domain. Moreover, during a period of stressful dispersal, in this case pandemic-induced, established perceived available belonging support has small, positive associations with work- domain outcomes (GPA estimate and intention to persist), and is associated with
relationships-domain outcomes (regular contact with distal co-residents and university peers).
The finding is likely to be generalisable to emerging adults in other stressful, dispersal events.
6.3.2 Contribution to the social support literature.
This thesis confirms perceived available social support as a small but pervasive contributor to the variances in relocated undergraduates’ outcomes and shows that the level differs between the types of residence such students typically occupy in Adelaide, South Australia. The level of perceived available social support is significantly higher in colleges than smaller capacity flats/houses and larger capacity “villages”. Study Two participants residing in small capacity flats/houses and large capacity “villages” reported similar levels of perceived available social support. Study Three participants confirmed the finding for
perceived available belonging support. Items of the tangible and appraisal support sub-scales are also oriented towards proximity and peers. However, there are other similarities between flats, share houses, and “villages”, and differences from colleges.
173 First, “Villages” are multi-storeyed, secure buildings consisting of flats. Whether or not in a “Village”, flats may have similar interior architecture to share houses and both are designed for small numbers of cohabitants. While “villages” typically have separate spaces for television, games, and gym where interaction between residents may occur, they do not include dormitories with shared facilities, dining halls, or outdoor sports areas which ensure increased personal interaction between more residents (Bronkema & Bowman, 2017).
Second, the level of integrated support in flats, houses, and “villages” is similar, and significantly lower than in colleges.
6.3.3 Contribution to the belonging and sense of community literature.
Study Three of this thesis shows perceived available belonging support has positive associations with typical undergraduates’ academic success (GPA estimate and intention to persist) and psychosocial health (psychological well-being, and regular contact with distal co- residents and university peers).
The comments of two college residents, one who remained during the pandemic and one who had had to return home after a month and then rely on telecommunication, exemplify the positive effects perceived available belonging support may have on academic success and psychosocial well-being:
… As I couldn’t go home (interstate) it was made clear to me that I was welcomed, belonged and would be looked after at college. They communicated well with us and ran great programs to keep us active and busy and give us something more to do than just study.
… I believe that having the support from everyone in my college helped me get through the pandemic and the time I had to spend back home. Without them I would have been less motivated and may have dropped out.
174 This thesis also shows associations of perceived available belonging support (ISEL, Cohen & Hoberman, 1983) with sense of community which inherently includes feelings of belonging (PSCS, Jason, et al., 2015). The former is measured by perceptions of physical proximity to available interpersonal activity, while the latter is measured by affirmations of loyalty, trust, fit, and mutual benefit as a member of an entity. Thus, it seems reasonable to conclude that perceived available belonging support is a generator and facilitator of sense of belonging within a community.
However, perhaps the greatest contribution to the belonging and sense of community literature is the large effect size of residence integrated support on both perceived available belonging support and sense of community. The finding was for a sample of relocated emerging-adult university students. However, the effect of integrated support (material comfort, ease of communication, commonality of purpose, and interpersonal care) could have implications for many kinds of groups, large and small. As previously noted, belonging and loneliness are at two ends of a continuum, and Study Three found the positive association of perceived available belonging support with psychological well-being.