Helping Students Make Meaningful Connections: A Cross-Sectional Survey of College Student Loneliness

Background Young adults are experiencing high levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. At colleges and universities across the United States, programs exist to address student mental health needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Purpose Current levels of loneliness among students (n = 487) at a Midwest university were researched to compare with previous trends and develop clearer recommendations for purposeful interventions. Methods This study utilized a cross-sectional study design with the UCLA Loneliness Scale during the fall 2022 semester. Results Higher levels of loneliness were linked to the demographics of identifying as cis-males, non-binary, and/or students of color. Students who had greater than 4+ h of social media usage per week and first year students also displayed the highest levels of loneliness. Qualitative data from student participants highlighted the importance of having a peer attend events with them, familiarity of event structures, and expanding access to counseling services and mentorship programs. Discussion Intentional development of programs needs to be prioritized to address student loneliness on campus. Translation to Health Education Practice With the increase in loneliness across the United States, there exist opportunities for mentoring programs for struggling students and to build community to normalize the promotion of mental and emotional health resources.