Student loneliness: Proposing a framework to identify and measure areas at greatest risk

Objective: This research aims to predict the relative risk of student loneliness at a small area geography. Method: This research creates a multi-dimensional, composite index (named the Student Loneliness Index), which consists of five key determinants of student loneliness: living alone, poor mental health, poor physical health, financial insecurity, and area deprivation. The Student Loneliness Index is mapped and applied to the city of Leeds, the UK’s fourth largest city by population. The Student Loneliness Index is then analysed and evaluated by a focus group of university students. Results: This research finds a strong north-south divide in student loneliness in Leeds, identifying hotspots of loneliness in inner-city areas, towns and to a lesser extent, parts of rural Leeds. Poor mental health, financial insecurity, and area deprivation correlate most strongly to areas at extreme risk of student loneliness. Discussion: This is the first known piece of academic research to predict, map and analyse relative levels of student loneliness. Through the creation of an easily replicable and transparent methodology, it is hoped that a similar framework can be employed in cities across the UK. Such an approach will contribute to a greater understanding of student loneliness and hence inform the allocation of support and associated resources.