The Relationship between Loneliness and Academic Performance among Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study at Gonabad University of Medical Sciences

Background: Loneliness is one of the common psychological challenges among medical students and can lead to issues such as class absenteeism and academic underperformance. This study aimed to examine the relationship between loneliness and academic performance among nursing students at Gonabad University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 among 176 nursing students at Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, selected through stratified sampling based on academic term. The instruments used for data collection included a demographic questionnaire, students’ Grade Point Average (GPA) to assess academic performance, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The questionnaires were distributed after obtaining informed consent. Data were analyzed using R4.5.0 software. Results: The mean age of the students was 21.36±1.63 years. The relationship between loneliness and academic performance was statistically significant by gender (P value=0.002), with a positive association in males (βloneliness=0.007) and a negative association in females (βloneliness=-0.019). Furthermore, a significant relationship was observed between loneliness and academic performance by place of residence (P value=0.001). Among non-dormitory students, the association was positive (βloneliness=0.044), while among dormitory students, it was negative (βloneliness=-0.013). Conclusion: This study revealed a nuanced relationship between loneliness and academic performance, varying by gender, academic term, and place of residence. Loneliness appears to influence men and women differently. Accordingly, men may exhibit resilience or even improved academic outcomes under loneliness, whereas women tend to experience decreased academic success. Moreover, loneliness among students in higher terms and those living in dormitories may contribute to poorer academic performance.