Understanding Loneliness in College Students

Past research suggests that loneliness is linked to increased depressive symptoms, anxiety, aggressiveness, social withdrawal, and impulsive behaviors (Cacioppo et al., 2014). Also, there is a link between a sense of connection and academic achievement across various levels of education (Goodenow, 1993). Thus, the current research study examined how loneliness is related to academic factors such as honor society engagement, academic self-efficacy, and having a mentor. As part of the Psi Beta National Research Project, survey data were collected from 2,074 undergraduate students from 31 participating community colleges. The survey included the 8-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8) and the 11-item Self-efficacy for Self-Regulated Learning scale. A scale for honor society engagement was created, as no scales to measure this construct exist. Our findings indicate that having a mentor (versus not or unsure) is associated with lower loneliness scores, consistent with past research (Liang et al., 2002; Lovell & Webber, 2023). Also, actively engaging in honor societies was associated with lower loneliness scores. Finally, as academic self-efficacy increased, there was a decrease in loneliness. Overall, the present study highlights the value of social connections in academic settings. Targeted strategies connecting students to mentors and extracurricular activities, such as honor societies, hold the potential to build connections to help students thrive in their academics, social connections, and overall well-being.