ERIC Number: EJ1473119
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: EISSN-1940-3208
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Loneliness Is Associated with Eating Disorders among a National Sample of U.S. College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Kyle T. Ganson1; Kelly Cuccolo2; Jason M. Nagata3
Journal of American College Health, v73 n2 p462-466 2025
Objective: To identify the association between loneliness and eating disorder symptomatology among a national sample of U.S. college students during COVID-19. Participants: Cross-sectional data from the 2020-2021 Healthy Minds Study (N = 96,645) were analyzed. Methods: Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale and eating disorder symptomology was measured using the SCOFF questionnaire. Multiple modified Poisson regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for confounding variables. Results: Greater loneliness was associated with both a positive eating disorder screen (risk ratio [RR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.10) and greater number of eating disorder symptoms (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.06-1.08). Gender modified this relationship, and men who endorsed greater loneliness had higher risk of eating disorder symptomatology compared to women. Conclusions: Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a greater risk of eating disorder symptomatology among college students. Findings underscore the need for social support and eating disorders programming on college campuses.
Descriptors: Psychological Patterns, Eating Disorders, Correlation, College Students, COVID-19, Pandemics, Gender Differences, Student Characteristics, Racial Differences, Ethnicity, Age Differences, Sexual Orientation, Place of Residence, Financial Problems, Drinking, Depression (Psychology), Anxiety, Mental Health, At Risk Persons
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: UCLA Loneliness Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: K08HL159350
Author Affiliations: 1Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 2Department of Psychology, Alma College, Alma, MI, USA; 3Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA