College Freshmen Grapple with Widespread Loneliness

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College Freshmen Grapple with Widespread Loneliness

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In 2017, many college freshmen across the United States were experiencing significant loneliness as they began their new academic lives. This sense of isolation was a prevalent issue, with a survey of nearly 48,000 college students indicating that 64% had felt “very lonely” in the preceding year. Additionally, 62% reported overwhelming anxiety and 69% felt “very sad.”

The transition to college can be a turbulent time, and the struggle to form meaningful friendships often takes longer than students anticipate. This can lead to feelings of being adrift in a new environment, despite being surrounded by many people.

Technology, while connecting students to family and friends from home, sometimes exacerbated feelings of loneliness by highlighting what they were missing. Studies from 2017 found that college students who spent 16 hours or more per week on social media had a higher likelihood of reporting loneliness. For instance, those using social media for 30 hours or more a week were 38% more likely to report loneliness. This suggests that excessive social media use might be replacing in-person interactions crucial for mental well-being.

Mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression, were frequently reported alongside loneliness. Between 2007 and 2017, there was a significant increase in mental health service utilization on U.S. campuses, with the rate of treatment nearly doubling from 19% to 34%. The percentage of students with a diagnosed mental health condition also rose from 22% to 36% in the same period.

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