Satisfaction and closeness in same- and cross-national college roommate relationships: What similarity matters? |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA;2. Department of Educational psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 880 Educational Sciences, 1025 W. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706-1796, USA;1. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA;2. Department of Educational psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 880 Educational Sciences, 1025 W. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706-1796, USA;1. Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Bellmont Hall, 2109 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78712, USA;2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136, USA;3. Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1975 Zonal Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA;4. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California, 635 Downey Way, Verna & Peter Dauterive Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA;5. Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, School of Education and Human Development, University of Miami, 5202 University Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA;6. School of Education, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland;1. Department of Psychology, Bursa Uluda? University, Bursa, Turkey;2. Department of Psychology, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey;3. Department of Psychology, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey;1. Nilüfer Kuru Education Faculty, Department of Early Childhood Education, Siirt University, Turkey;2. Faculty of Nursing, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey;3. Berrin Akman Education Faculty, Department of Early Childhood Education, Hacettepe University, Turkey;1. Department of International Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;2. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;3. Mohammed First University, Oujda, Morocco |
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| Abstract: | Living with a cross-national roommate provides unique opportunities for college students to engage in cross-cultural learning and to form meaningful intercultural relationships. However, little is known about the challenges faced by college students in building a successful cross-national roommate relationship. Based on the similarity hypothesis, this study examined whether or not perceived dissimilarities in living habits or attitudes toward college life accounted for discrepancies between same- and cross-national roommate pairs’ closeness and satisfaction with their roommate relationships. Structural equation modelling with survey data from 479 students (66.4 % female; 13.6 % international students; 17 % with a cross-national roommate) living in on-campus residence halls in a large university in the US showed that college students experiencing cross-national roommate relationships perceived more dissimilarities in living habits and attitudes toward college life than those living with same-nationals, which in turn related to lower levels of roommate satisfaction and/or roommate closeness. However, when perceived dissimilarities along with other variables (including gender, roommate’s study participation status, and roommate assignment method) were controlled, they reported no less satisfaction and even higher levels of closeness than those living with same-national roommates. Findings suggest that the benefits of cross-national affiliations in college residence halls are more likely to occur if educators and staff can help students prepare for and manage perceptions of differences, especially in living habits. |
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| Keywords: | College roommate Cross-national Same-national Satisfaction Closeness Perceived dissimilarity Living habits Attitudes toward college life |
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