The purpose of this study was twofold. The first was to examine the association of poor kin relations with students’ psychological distress and college adjustment in a sample of 83 African American undergraduates. The second was to assess whether the relationship of poor kin relations with both psychological distress and college adjustment was mediated by perceived stress and self-esteem. Fifty-nine female and 24 male African American undergraduates were administered the study measures via online survey. Findings revealed that poor kin relations were positively associated with psychological distress and negatively related to college adjustment. Evidence of the meditational role of perceived stress and self-esteem was found. Poor relations with kin were linked to increased vulnerability to stress and decreased self-esteem, which in turn, was associated with increase in psychological distress and decrease in college adjustment. For counselors, administrators and faculty concerned with the adjustment and retention of ethnic minority undergraduates, understanding the role of extended family and other off-campus relations in students’ psychological well-being may be highly important.
