Exploring the Impact of Loneliness on Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among College Students

Objective: College students have high rates of loneliness, which impacts their quality of life and academic success. Alongside loneliness, heavy alcohol and cannabis use are common in college students, with harmful mental and physical health consequences. Loneliness and substance use are linked in studies of adults, but there are few studies of links between loneliness and substance use in college students. This study aimed to analyze links between alcohol or cannabis use and loneliness in college students, with a subfocus on differences by Greek status (i.e., social fraternity or sorority member). Methods: Students (N = 2840) were enrolled at six U.S. universities. Linear, logistic, and negative binomial regression analyses were used in the analyses, with subanalyses stratified by Greek status. Results: While 30-d cannabis use was not related to loneliness, 30-d alcohol use was associated with higher levels of loneliness (M = 43.13 ± 11.23) vs. nonuse (M = 46.57 ± 12.00). Heavier alcohol use (e.g., days of use and binge use frequency) was also linked to lower loneliness. In contrast, increasing alcohol or cannabis use consequences were linked to higher levels of loneliness. These relationships were generally consistent by Greek status, with higher levels of alcohol and cannabis use but lower levels of loneliness in Greek students (M_Greek = 41.24 ± 10.76; M_Non-Greek = 44.67 ± 11.65). Conclusions: College students who engage in alcohol use may have lower loneliness, but increasing consequences from alcohol or cannabis use are linked to greater loneliness. This research highlights the importance of directing intervention toward ameliorating loneliness, particularly among students with alcohol or cannabis use consequences.