The Relationship between Past and Present Friendships and Apathy in University Students: Focus on Close Relationship

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between apathy in university students and social support from current friends and a commu-phobic tendency toward friends from the past in each close relationship: same school/classmate, club activities and best friends. A total of 244 students in four universities completed the questionnaire, using the Apathy scale, the Commuphobic Scale, the Scale of Expectancy for Social Support, and so on. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that a commu-phobic tendency toward past friends and social supports from current friends were associated with apathy. A commu-phobic tendency toward past friends had a positive association with apathy for the same high school / classmates or best friends. Social support from present friends had a negative association with apathy for the same university / major or club activities / fellow group members. The relationship between apathy with past and present friendships were different for each close relationship.