Loneliness Among U.S. College Students During COVID-19: An Exploratory Analysis
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Type
Submission
Keywords
Loneliness; undergraduates; national assessment; ULS-3; COVID-19
Department
Psychology
Major
Psychology
Abstract
The present study explored how loneliness rates among undergraduate students in the U.S. have changed before (Fall 2019), during (Spring 2021), and after (Spring 2023) lockdown by race and gender identity. Participants consisted of undergraduates who completed the National College Health Assessment III (NCHA III) from Fall 2019 to Spring 2023. The NCHA III assessed loneliness by having students complete the 3-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-3). Results indicated a main effect of gender (F(3,123543) = 256.70, p< .001) and race (F(7,122108) = 35.31, p< .001) on loneliness but not an interaction effect. The trend of loneliness exhibited a consistent pattern across all gender and racial groups. Loneliness reached its peak in Spring 2021 and subsequently decreased by Spring 2023, although not returning to the same levels observed in Spring 2019. In summary, while loneliness levels varied among different racial and gender identities, all undergraduates, regardless of race and gender identity, showed similar fluctuations in loneliness during the COVID-19 period.
Faculty Mentor
Khanh Bui
Location
Waves Cafeteria
Start Date
22-3-2024 1:30 PM
End Date
22-3-2024 2:30 PM
Loneliness Among U.S. College Students During COVID-19: An Exploratory Analysis
Waves Cafeteria
The present study explored how loneliness rates among undergraduate students in the U.S. have changed before (Fall 2019), during (Spring 2021), and after (Spring 2023) lockdown by race and gender identity. Participants consisted of undergraduates who completed the National College Health Assessment III (NCHA III) from Fall 2019 to Spring 2023. The NCHA III assessed loneliness by having students complete the 3-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-3). Results indicated a main effect of gender (F(3,123543) = 256.70, p< .001) and race (F(7,122108) = 35.31, p< .001) on loneliness but not an interaction effect. The trend of loneliness exhibited a consistent pattern across all gender and racial groups. Loneliness reached its peak in Spring 2021 and subsequently decreased by Spring 2023, although not returning to the same levels observed in Spring 2019. In summary, while loneliness levels varied among different racial and gender identities, all undergraduates, regardless of race and gender identity, showed similar fluctuations in loneliness during the COVID-19 period.