This study investigated how freshmen’s friendships affected their help-seeking from new college friends during the transition to college. 136 freshmen (68 pairs of same-sex friends) participated in a longitudinal study in which they completed a questionnaire two times (May and July, given that the new school year begins in April). Participants completed the measures of concern about help-seeking from their same-sex friends, given that there are the fear of negative response and stigmatization, relational efficacy, and help-seeking from new college friends at the beginning and end of their first semester. The results were analyzed using a multilevel structural equation model and showed that (a) at the pair level and the individual level, the relational efficacy decrease fear of negative response, and (b) at the individual level, relational efficacy and fear of stigmatization increase help-seeking. These results of this study can be used to develop a new strategy for university communities to support freshmen and protect against freshman’s maladjustment.
