Urban built environment and its impact on university students’ loneliness: a mechanistic study

To alleviate loneliness among university students, interventions should be approached from the perspective of urban planning and management. Firstly, it is essential to improve leisure, landscape, transportation, healthcare, and fitness facilities, enhancing their accessibility to foster social interactions. Secondly, increasing the availability of socially-oriented public spaces, such as student activity centers, community squares, and shared learning spaces, can strengthen interaction and communication. Additionally, policymakers should optimize the layout of urban transportation networks to encourage students to use public transit. Urban planners can support active transportation modes, such as walking and cycling, by rationally allocating road space. Lastly, the strategic placement of green and open spaces, such as parks and squares, should be prioritized to enhance access to natural environments, promote social activities, and mitigate feelings of loneliness.