The Influence of Parental Attachment on the College Adjustment of White, Black, and Latina/Hispanic Women: A Cross-Cultural Investigation

Although race and parental attachment are concepts that have been widely researched, few studies have explored how these variables manifest themselves among women or influence their adjustment to college. This study examined how parental attachment effected college adjustment among White, Black, and Latina/Hispanic women attending an urban commuter college. Attachment patterns were measured using the Parental Attachment Questionnaire (), and college adjustment was assessed using the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (). Results revealed that parental attachment significantly predicted aspects of college adjustment differentially for each racial subgroup. Implications regarding the experiences of diverse groups of female students attending large urban commuter institutions are discussed.