Social relationships within university undergraduate accommodation: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Social support at university is key for student wellbeing and retention. The majority of undergraduate students live with same-age housemates, so examining the relationship that students have with their housemates may be critical for understanding student adjustment. However, to date, social relationships within university accommodation have not been examined in detail. In the current study, N = 90 undergraduates at universities across the UK took part in an online qualitative study examining the relationships that students have with their housemates, and the role that this might play in student wellbeing. Four themes were constructed from the data using inductive qualitative content analysis: Proximity and shared experience; Emotional and practical support; Conflict stems from disrespect; and Loneliness, isolation and distress. Together, the themes demonstrate the divergent impact that housemates can have on student wellbeing: they can be a source of immense support or great unhappiness. The findings could have practical implications for how to foster more positive or functional peer relationships in university accommodation (such as mediation services), which could enhance and support student wellbeing.

KEYWORDS:

• Undergraduate
• university
• student
• housemates
• accommodation
• wellbeing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a departmental grant to the first author.

Notes on contributors

Lucy Foulkes

Lucy Foulkes is an associate editor at Aeon Media Ltd. When this study was conducted, she was lecturer in psychology in education, based in the Department of Education at the University of York.

Ariyana Reddy

Ariyana Reddy, when this study was conducted, Ariyana was an undergraduate psychology student in the Department of Psychology at the University of York.

Juliette Westbrook

Juliette Westbrook, when this study was conducted, Juliette was an undergraduate psychology graduate from the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford.

Elizabeth Newbronner

Elizabeth Newbronner is a sociologist and research fellow in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York.

Dean McMillan

Dean McMillan is a professor of clinical psychology in the Department of Health Sciences and Hull York Medical School at the University of York.