Longitudinal relationships between perceived stress and loneliness among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a three-wave cross-lagged study

Perceived stress and loneliness are major psychological challenges for college students, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although prior longitudinal studies suggested that loneliness predicts perceived stress, evidence remains inconsistent due to methodological limitations and conflicting results. This study employed a three-wave longitudinal design over a 13-month period and applied two cross-lagged panel models—the RI-CLPM and the RI-RCLPM—to examine the directional relationship between perceived stress and loneliness in a sample of 330 Chinese college students. Results showed that both constructs remained relatively stable and were positively correlated within and across waves; however, no longitudinal directional association was observed. These findings suggest that, in this specific socio-cultural and pandemic context, perceived stress and loneliness may co-occur without exerting reciprocal influence. The study underscores the importance of timely interventions addressing both stress and loneliness and refines current understanding of their developmental dynamics during large-scale societal disruptions. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as limitations and directions for future research, are discussed.