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Loneliness at Universities: Determinants of Emotional and Social Loneliness among Students

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  • Katharina Diehl

    (Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University; Ludolf-Krehl-Str. 7-11; 68167 Mannheim, Germany)

  • Charlotte Jansen

    (Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University; Ludolf-Krehl-Str. 7-11; 68167 Mannheim, Germany)

  • Kamila Ishchanova

    (Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University; Ludolf-Krehl-Str. 7-11; 68167 Mannheim, Germany
    Max-Weber-Institute for Sociology, Heidelberg University; Bergheimer Str. 58, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Jennifer Hilger-Kolb

    (Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University; Ludolf-Krehl-Str. 7-11; 68167 Mannheim, Germany)

Abstract

The transition from school to university is associated with social, structural, and behavioral changes. These changes may be related to feelings of loneliness, which are in turn related to morbidity. The authors’ aim was to quantify loneliness among students and to identify its determinants and its relation to transition-related variables (e.g., changes in weight, diet, or physical activity since the transition from high school to university). Coming from across Germany, 689 students participated in the Nutrition and Physical Activity in Adolescence (NuPhA) survey (16–29 years; 69.5% female). Associations of loneliness with the above-mentioned aspects were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regressions. Altogether, 32.4% felt moderately lonely and 3.2%, severely lonely. Emotional loneliness was more common than social loneliness (severe loneliness: 7.7% vs. 3.2%). Both were positively associated with feelings of depression and anxiety. Being married or in a committed relationship seemed to be protective factors for emotional loneliness. Physical inactivity, an immigrant background, and studying social sciences were related to higher social loneliness. Transition-related variables produced mixed results. In conclusion, this study’s findings indicated that loneliness seemed to be prevalent in university students. The authors identified important starting points for interventions to prevent loneliness. Such interventions may help reduce the disease burden in the students’ future professional life.

Suggested Citation

  • Katharina Diehl & Charlotte Jansen & Kamila Ishchanova & Jennifer Hilger-Kolb, 2018. "Loneliness at Universities: Determinants of Emotional and Social Loneliness among Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1865-:d:166390
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew Stickley & Ai Koyanagi, 2018. "Physical multimorbidity and loneliness: A population-based study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, January.
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    1. Rosario Padial-Ruz & José Antonio Pérez-Turpin & Mar Cepero-González & Félix Zurita-Ortega, 2019. "Effects of Physical Self-Concept, Emotional Isolation, and Family Functioning on Attitudes towards Physical Education in Adolescents: Structural Equation Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Janna Jaud & Tatiana Görig & Tobias Konkel & Katharina Diehl, 2023. "Loneliness in University Students during Two Transitions: A Mixed Methods Approach Including Biographical Mapping," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Trinh Xuan Thi Nguyen & Sumeet Lal & Sulemana Abdul-Salam & Pattaphol Yuktadatta & Louis McKinnon & Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Yoshihiko Kadoya, 2022. "Has Smartphone Use Influenced Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Ewa Kupcewicz & Marzena Mikla & Helena Kadučáková & Elżbieta Grochans, 2022. "Loneliness and Satisfaction with Life among Nursing Students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-16, March.
    5. Rosario Padial-Ruz & Gloria González-Campos & Félix Zurita-Ortega & M. Esther Puga-González, 2020. "Associations between Feelings of Loneliness and Attitudes towards Physical Education in Contemporary Adolescents According to Sex, and Physical Activity Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-14, July.
    6. Ilaria Riboldi & Chiara Alessandra Capogrosso & Susanna Piacenti & Angela Calabrese & Susanna Lucini Paioni & Francesco Bartoli & Cristina Crocamo & Giuseppe Carrà & Jo Armes & Cath Taylor, 2023. "Mental Health and COVID-19 in University Students: Findings from a Qualitative, Comparative Study in Italy and the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, February.
    7. Beata Dziedzic & Paulina Sarwa & Ewa Kobos & Zofia Sienkiewicz & Anna Idzik & Mariusz Wysokiński & Wiesław Fidecki, 2021. "Loneliness and Depression among Polish High-School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    8. Lorenzo Viselli & Federico Salfi & Aurora D’Atri & Giulia Amicucci & Michele Ferrara, 2021. "Sleep Quality, Insomnia Symptoms, and Depressive Symptomatology among Italian University Students before and during the Covid-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Ines Testoni & Silvia Piol & Diego De Leo, 2021. "Suicide Prevention: University Students’ Narratives on Their Reasons for Living and for Dying," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-15, July.
    10. Sumeet Lal & Trinh Xuan Thi Nguyen & Abdul-Salam Sulemana & Pattaphol Yuktadatta & Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Yoshihiko Kadoya, 2022. "A Longitudinal Study on Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-17, September.

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