The Impact of Relationships With Hall Mates, Tutors, and Wardens on the Residence Hall Experience in Hong Kong

Abstract

The benefits of living in residence halls have attracted increasing attention, yet it remains uncertain which particular aspects (academic performance, interpersonal outcomes, or personal development) students perceive as most beneficial from their residential experience. The present study examined the relative strength of the aforementioned outcomes and explored how relationships of students with hall mates, tutors, and wardens might have impacted these gains. Data were obtained from 1,329 undergraduate students currently living in residence halls. Results showed that the most significant gains were related to interpersonal outcomes whereby students expressed improved social communication skills and greater awareness of others’ feelings following their residential experience. Moreover, their relationships with hall mates had the strongest impact on all gains related to the residence hall experience. These findings highlight the importance of social interactions in strengthening various aspects of development during university lives.