New Study Highlights Mentoring as a Buffer Against Loneliness in Community College Students

A recent study by Diermeier and colleagues (2024) provides compelling evidence for the role of mentorship in combating loneliness among community college students. This research addresses a critical gap in our understanding of how institutional support mechanisms can promote student well-being and academic success.

The researchers frame their investigation within the context of an emerging loneliness epidemic, particularly acute among college students who face unique challenges in navigating new environments and social connections. The study’s focus on community colleges is especially pertinent, as these institutions often lack the residential components that traditionally foster community in four-year universities.

Method: The study employed a robust methodology, collecting data from 2,074 community college students across the United States through Psi Beta chapters. The research design incorporated validated measurement tools, including the Psychological Sense of School Membership Scale, Need to Belong Scale, Claremont Purpose Scale, Global Subjective Happiness Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale.

Key Findings: The analysis revealed several significant associations between mentorship and student outcomes. Students with mentors demonstrated lower loneliness levels and higher scores in school engagement, GPA, happiness, and sense of purpose. The regression analyses indicated that approximately 49.6% of the variance in student loneliness could be explained by the studied variables.

Discussion and Implications: The findings suggest that mentorship serves as a crucial nexus for positive student outcomes. The study revealed strong negative correlations between loneliness and happiness, while establishing significant relationships between school engagement and reduced isolation. These results align with previous research on the rising prevalence of loneliness among adolescents, particularly in populations with high technological engagement.

Implications for Mentoring Programs: The study’s findings suggest several practical applications for institutional mentoring programs:

Colleges should support mentoring programs and platforms like MentorPRO can help ensure good training and oversight.

Program Structure: Mentoring programs should focus on early intervention, particularly during crucial periods of social development in early adulthood.

Community Building: Institutions should invest in student-centered campus organizations and societies to increase opportunities for meaningful social connections.

Reference
Diermeier, D., Lazaris, N., Medina, D., & Morissette, M. (2024). The association between loneliness and community college student well-being: Assessing self-reported institutional engagement, mentorship, and belonging. Psi Beta Research Journal, 4(1), 55-61