Social media linked to student loneliness

Inside HIgher Education highlighted a new study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati that found students who spent more time on social media reported more feelings of loneliness. 

The study, published in the Journal of American College Health, analyzed data from nearly 65,000 students ages 18 to 24 at more than 120 colleges across the country. Students who used social media at least 16 hours a week — averaging more than two hours a day — were significantly more likely to say they were lonely than those who reported less screen time.

“I wish I could say I was shocked. I wish I could say that this was a surprising finding, but this was what I was expecting to see,” UC doctoral graduate and lead author Madelyn Hill told Inside Higher Education.

Hill now teaches at Ohio University.

Loneliness was measured by asking students how often they felt left out, lacked companionship or felt isolated. Students were also asked how many hours they spent on social media in a typical week.

The study co-authors included UC Professors Ashley Merianos, Rebecca Vidourek and Keith King and Indiana University Professor Matthew Smith.

“These results underscore how widespread loneliness is among college students and highlight that excessive social media use may be replacing the meaningful interactions that protect their mental health,” said Merianos, who teaches in UC's School of Human Services in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services.

“A key public health strategy is to strengthen social connection and help students build supportive relationships offline.”

Read the Inside HIgher Education story.

Featured image at top: UC researchers examined links between heavy social media use and loneliness among U.S. college students. Photo/PeopleImages/iStockPhoto