Can online interactions reduce loneliness in young adults during university closures in Japan? The directed acyclic graphs approach

Abstract As a countermeasure to the increased loneliness induced by the COVID‐19 pandemic‐related university closures, universities provided students with online interaction opportunities. However, whether these opportunities contributed to reducing loneliness during the university closures remains unclear, as previous studies have produced contradictory findings. We conducted a nationwide cross‐sectional survey. Data were collected on demographics, social environment, social support, interactions, health and loneliness from 4949 students from 60 universities across Japan. We used psychological network and Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) to examine the effect of online interactions on loneliness during university closures during COVID‐19. The results showed that the frequency of online interactions with friends did not exert a significant influence on loneliness during university closures. A comparative examination of the DAGs further illuminated that the social environment exhibited fewer pathways for interpersonal interactions and social support during these closure periods. The psychosocial pathways influencing young adults' loneliness show variations contingent on the university's closure status. Notably, the impact of heightened online interactions with friends on loneliness appears to be less pronounced among young adults in the context of university closure.

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Publication Details

Journal
Asian Journal Of Social Psychology
Published
2024-12-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/ajsp.12658
Primary Topic
Mental Health Research Topics
Type
article
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article

Can online interactions reduce loneliness in young adults during university closures in Japan? The directed acyclic graphs approach

Kuniaki Yanagisawa, Ryo Hayase, Makoto Fujimura, Kohei Kambara et al.
Asian Journal Of Social Psychology
Mental Health Research Topics
article

Can online interactions reduce loneliness in young adults during university closures in Japan? The directed acyclic graphs approach

Kuniaki Yanagisawa, Ryo Hayase, Makoto Fujimura, Kohei Kambara, Kengo Nawata, Hitomi Sugiura, Haruka Shimizu, Ayumi Yoshikawa, Kaichiro Furutani, Reiko Okamoto, Juri Kato, Ken’ichiro Fukui, Ryusuke Nakai, Masahiro Hashimoto, Y. Kiyonaga, Namiji Tokunaga, Natsuki Abe, Kenji Yokotani, Shuntaro Aoki, Masanori Tanaka, Ayano Yoshida, Suguru Iwano, Hiroki Hosogoshi, Jun Shigematsu, Yousuke Kawachi, Bumpei Sunaguchi, Masataka Takebe, Hiroshi Shimizu, Yoko Sugitani, Asuka Komiya, Junichi Taniguchi, Kazuaki Abe, Kosuke Sato, Katsue Yoshihara, Kohei Asano, Kenji Ogawa, Hiroshi Kohguchi, Sumin Lee, Ryozo Tomita, Ken’ichiro Nakashima, Yoshihiro Kanai, Yugo Kira, Nobuhiro Mifune, Masao Yogo, Yu Kasagi, Aki Okamoto, Keita Masui, Tomonori Karita, Akira Midorikawa, Koji Hasegawa, Tomomi Yamashita, Daisuke Nogiwa, Kyoko Sumioka, Hiroaki Yoshida, Nobuhito Abe, Toshiyuki Ishioka, Akihiro Toya, Jun‐ichiro Kawahara, Ryosuke Asano, Emiko S. Kashima, Hiroki C. Tanabe, Yoshihiro Fukumoto, Qingyuan Zhang, Yoshiyuki Ueda, Masanori Kimura, Takashi Nishimura, Hirofumi Hashimoto, Ayumi Tanaka, Masafumi Kamada, Kazuki Sasaki, Chiharu Ito, Junko Okada, Hiroshi Ikeda, Kazuho Yamaura, Akimine Mizukoshi, Atsushi Sugimura
article en

Abstract

Abstract As a countermeasure to the increased loneliness induced by the COVID‐19 pandemic‐related university closures, universities provided students with online interaction opportunities. However, whether these opportunities contributed to reducing loneliness during the university closures remains unclear, as previous studies have produced contradictory findings. We conducted a nationwide cross‐sectional survey. Data were collected on demographics, social environment, social support, interactions, health and loneliness from 4949 students from 60 universities across Japan. We used psychological network and Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) to examine the effect of online interactions on loneliness during university closures during COVID‐19. The results showed that the frequency of online interactions with friends did not exert a significant influence on loneliness during university closures. A comparative examination of the DAGs further illuminated that the social environment exhibited fewer pathways for interpersonal interactions and social support during these closure periods. The psychosocial pathways influencing young adults' loneliness show variations contingent on the university's closure status. Notably, the impact of heightened online interactions with friends on loneliness appears to be less pronounced among young adults in the context of university closure.

Asian Journal Of Social PsychologyVol. 28(1)
Kurume University (JP), Kyushu Kyoritsu University (JP), Tohoku Fukushi University (JP), Hiroshima University (JP), Otemon Gakuin University (JP), Prefectural University of Hiroshima (JP), Nishikyushu University (JP), Kanazawa Institute of Technology (JP), Kansai Medical University (JP), Shujitsu University (JP), Fukushima Medical University (JP), Hiroshima Bunkyo University (JP), Tokai University (JP), Doshisha University (JP), Kyushu University (JP), Ritsumeikan University (JP), Shinshu University (JP), Asahi University (JP), Otsuma Women's University (JP), Okayama University (JP), Chubu University (JP), La Trobe University (AU), Musashino University (JP), Tohoku University (JP), Hokkaido University (JP), Kwansei Gakuin University (JP), Kyoto University (JP), Tohoku Gakuin University (JP), Chukyo Gakuin University (JP), Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University (JP), Fukuoka University (JP), Kochi University of Technology (JP), Jumonji University (JP), Osaka University of Comprehensive Children Education (JP), Ehime Prefectural University of Health Science (JP), Fukuoka Institute of Technology Junior College (JP), Hiroshima International University (JP), University of Toyama (JP), Sophia University (JP), Ehime University (JP), Osaka Metropolitan University (JP), Rissho University (JP), Kansai University (JP), Ryutsu Keizai University (JP), Nagoya University (JP), Seikei University (JP), Kobe University (JP), Tokyo Metropolitan University (JP), Komazawa University (JP), Kanagawa University of Human Services (JP), University of Human Environments (JP), Kindai University (JP), Hokkai Gakuen University (JP), Tokushima University (JP), Osaka Dental University (JP), Kwassui Women's University (JP), Chuo University (JP), Tezukayama University (JP), The University of Osaka (JP)
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