Summary of New Study Reveals the Connection Between Loneliness and Unhealthy Habits:
A study of 264 college students has found that those who reported higher levels of loneliness had a higher fat diet and were more likely to engage in sedentary and low physical activity behaviors. The study, which was part of a larger Mason: Health Starts Here cohort study, suggests a potential need for further research to understand unhealthful dietary behavior and physical activity related to loneliness in college students. The study also found that sedentary and low active behaviors were more frequent in students reporting high loneliness and that interventions to reduce loneliness may have a positive effect on health promotion in this population.
*****
Loneliness Linked to Unhealthy Habits among College Students
Loneliness affects millions of people worldwide, and studies examining the impact of loneliness on health outcomes have been on the rise. A new study now finds that loneliness is associated with poor dietary behaviors and physical inactivity among US college students.
The Study
The cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Mason: Health Starts Here cohort study, which aims to understand and improve the health and well-being of university students. Li Jiang, a Master of Nutrition alum, conducted the research as part of her master’s thesis. Mason Nutrition and Food Studies Department Chair Lawrence J. Cheskin, Associate Professor Lilian de Jonge, former faculty member Cara Frankenfeld, and former postdoctoral fellow Ziaul H. Rana also contributed to the project.
The Findings
In a survey of 264 college students, those who reported higher levels of loneliness also had a higher fat diet and were more likely to engage in sedentary and low physical activity behaviors compared to those who reported lower levels of loneliness with a score of 10-12. The high loneliness group, with score ranges of 4-6 and 7-9, had a more sedentary (19.2%) and low active (53.8%) lifestyle.
Discussion
The National College Health Assessment reports that feelings of loneliness among college students have skyrocketed in the past decade. Moving to a new environment, a common experience for college freshmen, can lead to heightened feelings of loneliness. Cheskin, who has an MD, said that “interventions to reduce loneliness may have a positive effect on health promotion in this population.”
The Future of the Study
The Mason: Health Starts Here study is the first-of-its-kind transdisciplinary student cohort study following a broad sample of young adults, specifically Mason students, over time to capture the diversity of their college experiences, how it affects their health, and well-being. The research was funded by George Mason University’s Institute for BioHealth Innovation.
Conclusion
The study highlights how loneliness can lead to unhealthy outcomes among college students. The findings provide a potential need for further research on dietary habits, physical activity, and the impact of interventions aimed at reducing loneliness. Given that many college students may have limited access to resources, targeting interventions to reduce loneliness in this population could be a low-cost and high-impact solution.
Comments are closed