The survey of more than 12,000 students across 140 universities in the UK found that a quarter of students (24%) reported not having a real friend at university, even into their second and third years (20% in years 2 and 3). As social restrictions and other impacts of the pandemic continued, more than half (55%) of respondents stated they felt lonely every day or every week and 45% said they had been avoiding socialising in person or online with others.
Solitary Students: One in Four UK Students Without Friends at University, Accenture Research Finds (fenews.co.uk)
According to research, feelings of isolation and lack of aspiration for the future significantly affect
Microsoft Word – JEP-Vol.8 No.14 2017 (ed.gov)
the academic performance of students in complex ways. Generally, students who have aspirations for the future
tend to participate and thrive in school. However, students who feel lonely and isolated tend to spend their time
idly and therefore do not thrive in academic environments