Impact of Social Isolation During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Student Stress Levels

Abstract

Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic led to global restrictions, creating a long period of isolation that significantly impacted the mental health of people, particularly students. This study focused on investigating whether increased social isolation during the COVID-19 lockdown was associated with elevated stress levels among students, with a specific focus on perceived loneliness. It also examined whether living situations during lockdown influenced these experiences. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative survey design was employed. Fifty-nine students from the University of Roehampton retrospectively completed an online questionnaire assessing their experiences during the 2020-2021 lockdown period. The COVID-19 student stress questionnaire (CSSQ) and UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (TILS) were used to measure perceived stress and loneliness. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, Linear regression, and one-way ANOVA were used to analyse the data. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between loneliness and stress (r = 0.562, p < 0.0001), with loneliness accounting for approximately 31.6% of the variance in stress scores. However, one-way ANOVA showed that there are no statistically significant differences in stress or loneliness based on the living situation. Conclusions: the study demonstrates that perceived loneliness, rather than living situations, was a strong predictor of stress in students during lockdown. These findings highlight the importance of emotional support over social conditions and suggest that schools should prioritise and apply strategies that enhance social belonging and emotional support, especially during crises. This research enriches the available literature on student wellbeing and adds valuable insights into future mental health interventions.