Loneliness and depression: Relations with personal characteristics and life habits in university students

Abstract

This study evaluated loneliness and depression of college students to verify its relationship with their habits, course characteristics, and social support. It was used the UCLA-BR Loneliness Scale, Social Support Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and a complementary questionnaire to evaluate 574 students. Depression was screened in 38.7% of the students, and 53% of them showed minimal loneliness. Most students had four or more daily meals, slept 6 to 8 hours, considered having friends and leisure, did not smoke, but usually drank. There was a correlation between loneliness and depression (rho = 0.42) and of these with the students' habits, course area, and social support. It was concluded that the emotional state of the students is worrying and that interventions are necessary.