The Context

Students in Transition

Transitioning from high school to college can be very difficult for many students.

Social Support

Social support during difficult times can lead to feeling less stressed, improve mental health, and be academically successful.

New Social Network

Young adults are more likely to discuss personal issues with friends and peers than with family.

Finding a Friend

Social support is most effective among friends who speak the same language.

Project Overview

This study took place at an English-speaking Singaporean university. Thirty four first year and 37 second year students participated in this study. All participants spoke a language in addition to English, with the most common (92 percent) being Chinese/Mandarin.

We administered the same set of questionnaires at three time points: September 2013, December 2013, and May 2014. Questionnaires were presented to the participants on a computer in a computer lab of the university. All participants finished all three questionnaires. These questionnaires measured language proficiency, code-switching or how often the participants switched between 2 languages in a conversation, and feelings of adaptation, also known as the SACQ.

Our Work