The Impact of Loneliness to Depression: An evidence from College Students in Vietnam

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between loneliness and depression among college students in Vietnam. The study sample consisted of 523 students from the Economics/Business and Engineering disciplines, who participated in the survey by responding to questionnaires based on the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS - 21) indicators. The findings of this study indicate that while social loneliness meets the validation standards, emotional loneliness is incongruent with the context and study participants in Vietnam. The final results reveal a positive correlation between loneliness and depression (r = 0.42, P-value < 0.005). Subsequently, the research team provides recommendations that college students should actively participate in social and recreational activities, maintain relationships with friends and family to alleviate social loneliness, thereby minimizing the likelihood of developing depression. Social organizations should strive to create a friendly, open environment that fosters a sense of connection and belonging for everyone.