Digital Pathways to Social Connection: A Scoping Review of Online Interventions to Support University Student Social Connections

In light of prevalence studies revealing high rates of loneliness among young adults studying at university, the development of social connections amongst peers and others is regarded as a priority. This is particularly important for students from equity and historically marginalised groups, as they face unique challenges that impact their ability to form social connections and a sense of belonging within a higher education context. Digital interventions show promise for addressing social connection needs of university students, though evidence of effectiveness is mixed. This scoping review examined 40 studies exploring what is known about the use of online tools to address the social connection needs of university students. Interventions targeted various social connection needs, including belonging, social support and community engagement. Synchronous, facilitator-led interventions appeared more effective than self-paced ones, although about two-thirds of randomised controlled trials found no significant benefits, suggesting more rigorous methods yield fewer positive results. Qualitative data often showed benefits even when quantitative measures did not. The majority of studies were from Western countries, with only a quarter focusing on equity groups and limited interventions specifically designed for social connection. More research using robust methods is needed to evaluate digital social interventions, particularly for diverse student groups. Universities should consider factors like engagement, facilitator guidance, and opportunities for belonging when designing digital social connection tools. While digital interventions continue to be integrated into university support services, their effectiveness for improving student social connection remains inconclusive due to heterogeneous outcomes.