The Dark Side of Study: When Study Negatively Affects Relationships and School Climate. The Study-Relationships Conflict Scale

Abstract

This study proposes a new instrument for evaluating the Study-Relationships Conflict, or the conflict that may exist between study and personal relationships with family, friends, schoolmates, and teachers. We recruited a sample of 598 Italian University students (age: M = 22.58 ± 3.85) of different majors. By means of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses, we reduced the 16-item pilot version to nine items and three factors: 1) Quarrels at School—QS; 2) Relationship Impairment—RI; 3) Family and Friends’ Complaints—FFC. Moreover, we analyzed the correlation between these scales and some academic indicators: Grade Point Average (GPA) and time spent studying. The results showed that the Study-Relationships Conflict Scale (SRCS) has good psychometric properties. In addition, GPA positively correlates with the FFC scale; while time spent studying correlates positively with both the RI and the FFC scales. Finally, QS has a statistically and low significant positive correlation with the hours a day of study before exams. The SRCS will be useful in future research aiming to analyze how studying behaviors could affect social and school relationships. Moreover, it could also be used as a quick screening for detecting student at-risk of high social impairment due to their overstudying, and for developing preventive interventions.