Men and women's attachment and contact patterns during the first year of college

Attending a university involves change and transition. Adjustment to the pressures that accompany this period of separation from parents is supported by strong family relationships. Research is limited that explores how voting men and women's attachment is affected by and manifested in contact with parents. Thus, the study explored potential gender differences in young adults perceptions of attachment quality and thus need and non-need based interactions with parents. 43 male and 45 female students attending a midsize, American urban university, revealed that females both initiated and received need and non-need based contact with parents more than males. Consistent with attachment theory, parent-child need and non-need based interactions were related to one's perceived quality of attachment.