Designing a systemic intervention for student loneliness and social connectedness using a mixed-methods, co-creation...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health
• Higher Education

Background:

• Loneliness and social disconnectedness are critical public health issues, especially for university students.
• Current interventions for student loneliness often focus on individuals, neglecting systemic factors.
• There's a need to reconceptualize loneliness as a systemic issue within university environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore university students' social experiences.
• To co-design a digital health solution addressing student loneliness.
• To investigate the role of the university environment in student social connectedness.

Main Methods:

• Sequential mixed-methods and participatory action research approach.
• Study One: Focus groups to explore social experiences.
• Study Two: Survey to assess perceptions of university responsibility and campus space.
• Study Three: Co-design of a digital health solution (MAPP).

Main Results:

• Students perceive universities as partially responsible for their social connectedness.
• Campus space perceptions are a key factor in student social experiences.
• Co-design process led to MAPP, an interactive campus map visualizing the social network.
• MAPP aims to increase community visibility, foster belonging, and support inclusivity.

Conclusions:

• A system-focused approach, rather than individual-focused, is needed for student loneliness.
• MAPP offers a novel, holistic digital health solution by addressing the university as a social system.
• Visualizing the university's living social network can enhance belonging and engagement.
• This approach supports institutional inclusivity and combats student loneliness effectively.