PEER AND FAMILY RELATIONS: A THEORETICAL MODEL FOR HELPING STUDENTS IN DISTRESS

Peers are the front line support group for most adolescents both inside as well as outside college or university. Students ’ adjustment at the university is also largely determined by the formation of good and lasting relationships with peers and these relationships are largely dependent on many factors including family relationships. Good and close family relationships tend to ensure better social adjustment and relationships with peers at the university together ensure less student distress and college/university adjustment problems. This paper explores this issue of students in distress in colleges and universities and what research says regarding the problems they face and causes of these problems. It also provides a theoretical framework based on peer and family relations to understand the multitude causes of student distress and recommends some solutions that university authorities may need to take into account to help alleviate these problems that plague universities all over the world