The Relationship Between Perceived Social Support And Social Adaptation Of College Students

For people who enter universities,espcially moving away to study in another city,they have to go through a process to transform from a familiar environment,which also under parents' protection and control,to a strange but relative independent environment.College is an importanr turning point as they need adjust new living and learning condition,and confront higher level challenges and requirements.The transition highlights social adaptation problems and challenges their sense of belonging.Perceived social support and the need to belong may have certain effects on social adaptation and sense of belonging during this period.This study utilizes the method of questionnaires survey.The author applies the research instruments,including Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support,Sense of Belonging Instrument-Psychological state,Need to Belong Scale,Belongingness Orientation Scale and the questionnaire of university students' social adaptation,to conduct the questionnaire survey within 418 university students.The collected data were analyzed to describe features of perceived social support,sense of belonging,the strength/orientation of need to belong and social adaptation,and indicate the core effect of growth belongingness orientation and sense of belonging.The author aim to put forward useful suggestions to enhance sense of belonging and social adaptation among college students.The main results are as following:1.College students' social adaptation,sense of belonging and perceived social support are all above theoretical average,postgraduate students have stronger growth orientation,and better social adaptation.No significant effect of demographic variable shows on sense of belonging.2.The intensity of the need to belong of college student could predict their perceived social support.3.College students' perceived social support have positive correlation with sense of belonging,growth orientation and social adaptation.Both growth orientation and sense of belonging shows positive correlation with social adaptation.4.The growth orientation mediate relation between perceived social support and sense of belonging.5.Perceived social support has impact on social adaptation through the multiple mediator effects of growth orientation and sense of belonging.Based on the results of current study,the following suggestions are put forward:1.Focus on internal basic needs,enhance growth orientation belongingness need.2.Developing supportive relationships,improve the ability of perceived social support.3.Take the initiative to satisfy sense of belonging.