Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
What factors contribute to student retention, dropout, and success within the first semester? We hypothesized that persistent feelings of loneliness across the semester play a major role in a student’s intentions to continue enrollment, and a lack of social connection to the university mediates this relationship. We assessed this in a sample of n = 30 first semester freshman enrolled in a university success seminar across the Fall 2025 semester, of whom n = 8 completed Wave 1 and Wave 4 surveys of a four-wave study spanning the whole semester. We used the 20- item UCLA Loneliness Scale, the 24-item University Belonging, and a 3-item measure of intent to continue enrollment. Our results were consistent with our hypotheses that higher feelings of loneliness that persist across the semester will be related to weaker intentions to continue enrollment, and that reduced feelings of university belonging will mediate this relationship. This research contributes to our understanding how student loneliness and lack of social integration with the university are associated with the student’s choice to stay or drop out, adding to our understanding about how social factors contribute to college student success. Keywords: Belonging/Rejection, Loneliness, Student Success
Publication Date
4-2026
Recommended Citation
Berg, Amy, "The Role of Loneliness on College Freshmen Retention" (2026). Libraries Undergraduate Research Award Winners. 1.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/lura-winners/1