Attachment and control in family and mentoring contexts as determinants of adolescent adjustment to college.

This study examined whether adolescents' perceptions of attachment security and behavioral and psychological control as experienced in family and mentoring contexts are predictive of their adjustment to college. One hundred fifty-eight academically at-risk adolescents (63 men and 95 women, 16-20 years old) completed questionnaires twice during their first semester: before and after they participated in a mentoring program. Analyses yielded 4 findings: (a) Paternal control was predictive of adolescent adjustment to college; (b) above and beyond perceptions of parental attachment and control, perception of a secure relationship with a mentor was predictive of adolescent adjustment; (c) this relationship was found to be stronger for adolescents who reported having high levels of security in the relationship with their mother; and (d) psychological control by both parents appeared to be a significant determinant of academic achievement.