First-generation students’ adaptation to university: The role of student social networks

Previous research suggests that first-generation students face extra challenges in the transition to university compared to non-first-generation students, including adjusting to the academic demands of university life and building up their social support networks. However, few studies have mapped out these students' social networks in detail. The aim of this study was to compare the social networks and adjustment to university in first-generation students and non-first-generation students in their first year at a UK university. We used a genetic matching algorithm to match 112 first-generation students to 112 non-first-generation students on age, gender and nationality (mean age = 18.71 years old, 69 male, 146 female, 5 non-binary, four did not state gender). We used an online social network tool to elicit the size of students’ social support network and the different types of ties (e.g. family, friend) in this network. We used the Crombag’s Adaption Questionnaire to measure adjustment to university life. There were no significant differences in the overall size of the support network or adjustment to university life in first-generation versus non-first-generation students. Therefore, the pre-registered hypotheses were not supported. An exploratory analysis suggested non-first-generation students have significantly more non-family social ties than first-generation students (R2 = .019), but the Bayes Factor suggested only anecdotal evidence of an effect (BF10 = 1.1). Future research could examine whether the characteristics of the university (e.g., percentage of first-generation students) may influence the adaptation of first-generation students to university life.