How to prevent social isolation at school
UC expert talks to news magazine about ways UC prevents student loneliness
U.S. News & World Report highlighted the discovery by researchers at the University of Cincinnati that students who spend more time on social media are more likely to feel lonely.
UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Professor Ashley L. Merianos and UC doctoral graduate Madelyn Hill, now with Ohio University, examined survey responses from 65,000 students across 120 colleges.
They found that students who use social media at least 16 hours per week — or more than two hours per day — were significantly more likely to say they had feelings of loneliness compared to students who spend less time online.
Professor Ashley L. Merianos. Photo/Provided
“These results underscore how widespread loneliness is among college students,“ Merianos said.
About 13% of respondents in the UC study used social media 16 or more hours per week. And this group reported significantly higher rates of loneliness than other students, researchers found.
UC and other colleges are aware of the isolation students can face, particularly during their first year. And they offer many programs and outlets to give students a chance to socialize and make new friends, Merianos said.
"Promoting these opportunities can help reduce student isolation, which is linked to loneliness and patterns of excessive social media use such as doom scrolling," she told U.S. News & World Report.
UC President Neville Pinto recently discussed ways the university is offering social support to students.
“Our goal is to create physical environments that foster connection, belonging and wellbeing,“ Pinto said.
These spaces include the new CATS Lounge and Bearcat's Den in the Steger Student Life Center, the Student Wellness Center, the Commuter Student Lounge, Veteran's Lounge and Cultural Center.
“The Student Affairs team is also working to build belonging across the student experience — from orientation and first-year seminars to learning communities and our scholarship programs,“ Pinto said. “Peer connection is key.“
Featured image at top: UC students cheer at a football game at Nippert Stadium. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC
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