Constructing Connections: A Phenomenological Explanation of Loneliness in First-Year Undergraduates

Authors

Natalie S. Byrd, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Sophia C. McCabe, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Jessica R. Robinson, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow

Abstract

Loneliness is a pervasive phenomenon among college students globally, which has been previously explored in qualitative research. "Friendsickness,” focused on the preoccupation with lost or changed pre-college friendships, is linked to heightened social concerns, discrepancies between expectations and experiences, and loneliness in college (Paul & Brier, 2001). Additionally, pre-college romantic and familial relationships can impact first-year college students' social adjustment and loneliness levels (Calderon Leon et al., 2022; Paul et al., 1998). Guided by social constructivist theory, this phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of eight undergraduate students at a small liberal arts college in the Northeast United States. This study involved conducting semi-structured interviews to examine the participants’ experiences with loneliness, the impact on pre-college relationships, and successes and challenges in forming and maintaining relationships during their transition. Our results reveal that loneliness is a significant issue among first-year students, impacting their emotional and social adjustment and, occasionally, their psychological and physical well-being. Loneliness often stems from the inability to balance maintaining pre-existing relationships and forming new ones, compounded by isolation and roommate conflicts. However, many students succeed in finding connections through shared interests or co-rumination, as well as in strengthening family bonds. Through a social constructivist lens, these experiences reflect the tension between maintaining pre-existing values and relationships while adapting to new social and cultural expectations in higher education. Therefore, loneliness can result from identities and connections being heavily negotiated during the transition to college.

Keywords

Loneliness; social adjustment; relationships; friendships; family; college-students; emerging adulthood; social constructivism; phenomenological

Recommended Citation

Byrd, Natalie S.; McCabe, Sophia C.; and Robinson, Jessica R. (2025) "Constructing Connections: A Phenomenological Explanation of Loneliness in First-Year Undergraduates," Soaring: A Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2025, Article 3.
Available at: https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/soaring/vol2025/iss1/3