Academic and non-academic predictors of student psychological distress: the role of social identity and loneliness

Background: University students experience high rates of stress and mental illness; however,few studies have comprehensively examined the impact of academic and non-academicstressors on student mental health. Similarly, there has been little focus on the role of socialgroups in protecting against mental distress in this young adult group.Aim:To identify the key social determinants of mental health symptoms in a studentpopulation.Methods: Using an online survey, we administered measures of social connectedness andmental health symptoms alongside academic and non-academic stressors to a large sample ofUK university students.Results: Loneliness was the strongest overall predictor of mental distress, while assessmentstress was the most important academic predictor. Strong identification with universityfriendship groups was most protective against distress relative to other social identities, and thebeneficial impact of identification on symptoms was mediated by reduced loneliness.Conclusions: The study highlights the benefits of establishing strong social connections atuniversity and the importance of minimising stress associated with assessment tasks