Undergraduate Honors Theses

Date of Award

Winter 4-6-2025

Program

Psychology

Supervisor

Dr. Christine Tenk

Abstract

Unanticipated transitions are particularly stressful for the novel emerging adulthood cohort. Some research has come out of the experiences of the COVID-19 global pandemic concerning this relationship, though there remains a lack of research concerning ‘everyday’ unexpected academic transitions. When Brescia University College, Canada’s last women-led university, closed in spring of 2024, its students faced one such transition which offered a unique opportunity for study. This study evaluated levels of perceived social support, perceived stress, subjective well-being, and posttraumatic growth among former Brescia University College students (n = 25) after their transition to Western University Main Campus upon Brescia’s closure. This study furthers the literature on identifying key social groups for emerging adults and university students in buffering the negative impacts of unanticipated academic transitions, which may offer opportunities to explore strategies of how best to support successful adjustments.

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