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Introduction
Friendship is a close relationship between two people who share common interests and feelings. The first thing many learners establish once they get to college is friendships. Transitioning to college can be challenging for many students; thus, they need friendships to assist them. Once on campus, undergraduate learners often experience difficulties that negatively impact their emotional health. These issues include academic pressure, social isolation, and financial stress. Amidst all the mentioned stressors, it is easy to forget the importance of maintaining healthy relationships. Friendship can help mitigate the drawbacks and provide emotional support during difficult times by being a source of joy and happiness. Making friends in college can help individuals adjust to a new social environment and promote positive mental health.
Adjustment to New Environments
Buote et al. (2007) discusses the importance of friendship for new university learners’ adaptation to new grounds. It is based on a study of new friendships and adjustment among 1st-year university students in Canada. The study discovered a significant positive correlation between the quality of new friendships and adjustment to university; this association is more robust for students living in residence than those commuting to university. The article by Buote et al. (2007) has several weaknesses that may make it less effective in addressing mental conditions among college learners. First, it does not discuss the possible adverse effects of friendship, such as peer pressure and peer influence. Second, there is no inclusion of the different types of acquaintances, such as platonic and romantic friendships. Lastly, Buote et al. (2007) have not highlighted the various stages of friendship, such as acquaintance, acquaintance with benefits, and close companionship.
On the other hand, Picton et al. (2017) also analyze how friendships help learners get used to their new environments better. Friendships can provide a sense of belonging, support, and well-being, leading to deeper student engagement. Picton et al. (2017) add the advantages of meeting others and sharing experiences of university life in helping students manage challenges and stress. Just like the first article, the authors do not analyze the negative influences of friendships that could result in the problems friendships are aimed to solve (Picton et al., 2017). Also, both studies used small samples to draw their conclusion; thus, the information may be inadequate in generalizing among broader populations.
Friendships and Positive Mental Health
Friday (2021) and Adkins (2021) analyze the positive effects of friendship on mental health. For instance, Friday (2021) discusses how different friendship qualities can impact mental health among college students. The article discusses mental health conditions like depression, loneliness, social anxiety, and positive affect. The report argues that friendships can be essential in mitigating the negative impacts of mental health conditions. For example, strong social support may contribute to better mental health, while weak social support may exacerbate mental illnesses (Friday, 2021). Moreover, the authors suggest that interventions for students whose mental health depends on social support but does not have fulfilling friendships could help improve student retention rates.
On the other hand, Adkins (2021) discusses how having a best friend during the transition from school to college has mental health benefits for students. Best friends can also offer helpful advice and guidance when navigating the new college landscape. Adkins (2021) report is broader than Friday’s, as it looked at friendship from childhood to college and how it contributes to mental health. Adkin’s work may not be adequate for understanding the role of companies in university students. However, it offers a general overview of friendships’ role in accomplishing mental health in children and young adults, mostly in school.
Conclusion
Friendships play an essential role in the emotional health of undergraduate students. They can help students adjust to new environments and promote positive mental health. New college students who lack friends find it hard to cope and may get into depression compared to those with at least one friend. Additionally, friendships can help to improve mental health by providing social support and a sense of belonging, which can lead to deeper student engagement. Although friendship has potential adverse effects, such as peer pressure and peer influence, the positives outweigh the negatives. Therefore, undergraduate students need to form and maintain healthy friendships.
References
Adkins, I. (2021). Mental health and the impact of friendship. WRIT: Journal of First-Year Writing, 4(1).
Buote, V. M., Pancer, S. M., Pratt, M. W., Adams, G., Birnie-Lefcovitch, S., Polivy, J., & Wintre, M. G. (2007). The importance of friends. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(6), 665–689.
Friday, V. (2021). The importance of friendship for college students. Goodwin University. Web.
Picton, C., Kahu, E. R., & Nelson, K. (2017). Friendship supported learning: The role of friendships in first-year students’ university experiences. USC Research Bank. Web.
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