Exploring loneliness: Prevalence and determinants among medical students in Bangladesh

Loneliness, a deeply distressing emotional state, has emerged as a critical factor contributing to mental health challenges among medical students. It is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes, and its prevalence among medical students is rising globally. Past studies indicated that doctors are among the loneliest professionals. This study aims to assess the prevalence of loneliness and its associated factors among medical students in Bangladesh. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scientific investigation to evaluate loneliness among medical students in the country. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among 529 current medical students (1st to 5th year) across Bangladesh using an online survey and convenience sampling techniques. The UCLA Loneliness Scale was used to assess levels of loneliness, along with relevant socio-demographic questionnaires. Among the participants, 27.3% reported a high degree of loneliness, while 52.2% experienced moderate levels of loneliness. The remaining 20.5% reported low levels of loneliness. Unhealthy lifestyle factors such as smoking, drug abuse, and other risky habits were found to be prevalent among participants experiencing loneliness. The findings underscore the urgent need to establish robust mental health services in medical colleges to address the mental well-being of students. Given the limitations of this study, including its cross-sectional nature, and the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' mental health, further longitudinal and in-depth studies are recommended to explore this issue comprehensively.