The cost-of-living crisis is the leading cause of loneliness amongst current students according to new research by online learning provider FutureLearn. In the lead-up to a record-breaking new school year for the number of people attending university in September, this new piece of research, in which 1000 people were surveyed, compared loneliness between current students and graduates who graduated within the last decade.
Over three-quarters of students (78%) admitted to feeling lonely at least once while studying, with 55% of respondents saying it negatively affected their overall performance and others admitting it stopped them from experiencing university milestones such as exams/lectures (18%) and graduation (13%).
Loneliness is a common side effect of poor mental health; a recent study by the Mental Health Foundation* found that more than one-third of all current adults are ashamed to talk about feeling lonely. Of all the students who admitted to feeling lonely at university, more than one quarter (29%) would rather speak to a friend than a parent about their issues. Moreover, 44% of current students still felt universities do not have enough resources to help students address loneliness. Of those questioned, 38% of students said they’d like to see more in-person social clubs with 15% wanting more online courses and training.
