onnectedness and interpersonal support are critical for the well-being of human societies as we are forged to depend on social interactions. Interpersonal support is the available assistance from a supportive group of people. An individual who has quality relationships and is emotionally supported by family and peers will have a strong social network. Social support plays an important part of one’s life. It simply gives people a sense of belonging thus making them feel like a community of people support, care and love them. Meera Padhy, Prabhati Pati and Sandra Roshni Monteiro corroborated that when parents thoroughly support their children, the latter are reported to have a better well-being and higher self esteem (para. 3). A study conducted by Malkoc and Yalcin proved that perceived social support from family, friends and significant others contributed to psychological well-being. A simple face to face communication which can involve an exchange in a wide variety of information has a potential to improve relationship satisfaction. Indeed, there are favorable results from social connection. Lack of social connectedness, however, is an ordeal as it can greatly affect the mental health of a person. Someone who is deprived with connectedness and support from a community may feel spiteful and suffer from loneliness. Loneliness, as defined by Weiss R. in his study (qtd. in Perkins, et al), can stem from the “absence of close, emotional connections with others, social (absence of social relationships)” and the feeling of disconnection from others and sometimes from the universe (para. 1). It is associated with two percent increase in the risk of premature mortality, hence making it as one of the major problems in public health. Moreover, loneliness can lead to depression and social isolation and may result to poorer cognitive function. These can all prompt to prolonged mental illness and substance abuse which are explicitly common in younger adults (usually under twenty five years old). Previous studies have constantly indicated that females are more likely to come down with depressive symptoms than male. Generally, females have larger social networks and participate more in social activities compared to males. Huijun Liu, Mengru Zhang, Qing Yang and Bin Yu concluded their study by declaring that women need greater interpersonal connectedness more than males because they are recognized to have a prominent emotional sharing in their social relationships compared to males (page 256).

According to Gregory Walton and Geoffrey Cohen, members of stigmatized groups in an academic and professional settings are more sensitive when it comes to the idea of self belonging (para. 1). They are usually hesitant and untrustworthy to the quality of social bonds. This is an example of belonging uncertainty. Constituents of minor ethnic groups are usually at a disadvantage seeing that social belonging is a key major in intellectual achievement. They habitually face discrimination and feel like they are under represented which can increase stress and dissatisfaction. Given this context, it is suffice to say that newly admitted students of color in the university suffer higher levels of stress as they are not just meeting the academic demands but more importantly, they need to receive enough interpersonal support and achieve the sense of belongingness in the campus which is laborious considering that they are still in the adjustment period of their university life. Poor adjustment is associated with poor grades and substandard performance that’s why “adjustment plays a major role in academic success” (Kaur and Sharma, 2021). Commonly, first-year students show poor social skills and are insecure to build relationships. Failure in establishing connection with other students will lead in isolation and alienation, which can then eventually get down to students to miss their classes therefore lessening any participation in school activities.

Numerous studies have concluded that it is the university’s liability to make students feel a sense of belonging. According to Matyam Hussain and James, there are ways to buffer the adverse effects of discrimination to student’s sense of belonging. Firstly, the institution should give opportunities to students to take part in conversations where diverse peer interactions occur. Secondly, the faculty and staff of the university should present topics and lessons that promotes diversity. Lastly, the university should provide and create safe spaces where the marginalized students will feel connected and united (para 37-38). According to David Kember, Kenneth Lee and Natalia Li, “it is justifiable to urge academics and universities to pay more attention” in cultivating a sense of belonging to students (par. 109). The first method Kember, et al. contended is to encourage class discussion which promotes social interaction between students and teachers. The second one is for the faculty to treat the students as cohort which made it easier for students to build relationships. Another method is to encourage staff to interact with their students and to provide good quality teaching (pages 334-337).

Nevertheless, with all the support and help from the institution, it’s still up for the students to take part in activities and rely on the teaching staff and faculty of the university. I do believe that the students are partially responsible, to make themselves feel motivated and move into a positive direction. A few strategies to combat loneliness instigated by students were highlighted in the study conducted by Konstantina Vasileiou, Julie Barnett, Manuela Barreto, John Vines, Mark Atkinson, Kiel Long, Lyndsey Bakewell, Shanun Lawson and Michael Wilson on 2019. According to Vaarala et al. (qtd. In Vasileiou et al.) “coping with loneliness encompassed concrete actions (e.g., going out, hobbies) initiated by students, seeking social support, and emotional and cognitive regulation (e.g. optimism, realistic expectations for friendships).” Students may not be aware of it but partaking even in informal discussion may promote a sense of belonging. As claimed by Gillian Sandstrom and Catherine Rawn, a casual chit-chat from the students in the campus should not be interpreted as a waste of time because this is a technique wherein peer to peer interactions may improve the student’s learning process and sense of belonging. Subconsciously, students combat isolation and loneliness by engaging in their life activities.

Despite interacting with many peers in and out of the classroom, college students are still susceptible to loneliness. More recently, due to the advancement of technology, students count on the use of social media in improving access to relationships.  According to Youngmi Sohn, Sungbum Woo, Duckhyun Jo and Eunjoo Yang, the “intimacy experienced on social media would lead to decreased loneliness, mediated by social capital, which shares features of social support.” (para 6). Regardless of several studies claiming that the use of social media is detrimental to one’s well being, it is actually an alternative way for the  students to receive social support since it enable interactive communication.  As mentioned by Abbas et al (qtd in Ali Aljabry et al), “social media enhanced student’s grades as social media increased the communications and discussion between students and their instructors” (para 8). Using social media is another way for the students to connect to other people. Online social networks can fulfill one’s needs to belong, and receive social support. It is also easier for students to find peers with the same interests online thus establishing connections is easier.

The main point of this research essay is that, students are heavily dependent and in need of social support from a community. Having an excellent social network , may it be online or offline, can be a determinant of the student’s academic success. And based on the literature I have collected and analyzed, I came to the conclusion that in order for the students to build a community in the university, their institution must at least provide them the support, commitment and opportunity to have a sense of belonging. I still stand, however, with my argument that the responsibility to save students from feeling of socially isolation both relies to the campus and the students itself. Students should make an effort as well to develop their communication skills in order to build relationships. With the use of social media, students can  combat loneliness and social isolation by initiating communication to others. Going back to Chitra Aiyar’s speech on Ted, she stressed that receiving no social support or having no community, students can feel isolated which may lead to poor academic performance and the chance of students eventually dropping out of the university is more likely to happen. I would like to emphasize that there are various reasons on why students cannot meet the academic demands and would like to suggest to the succeeding researchers to consider other reasons that may be associated to poor academic performance of students in the university. Subsequent researchers could have  also expanded this research essay by determining the external factors that might be significant enough to make students feel socially isolated. This paper can be useful to upcoming researchers who will focus their study on social isolation, social and interpersonal support.  

Works Cited:

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