A serial mediation model of sense of belonging to university and life satisfaction: The role of social loneliness and depression

The impact of a sense of belonging (SOB) on life satisfaction is acknowledged. However, research focusing on this dynamic within higher education is sparse. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying this association warrant further investigation. This study aimed to determine the serial mediation effects of loneliness and depression on the relationship between SOB and life satisfaction among college students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 345 college students (M_age = 22.16, SD = 4.48). The survey instruments included the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), and the Institutional Integration Scale (IIS). The serial mediation effects were analyzed utilizing Model 6 of Hayes' PROCESS macro in SPSS. The results showed that the sense of belonging to the university had no direct effect on life satisfaction (Effect = 0.105, 95 % CI: −0.076 to 0.286). Loneliness and depression serially mediated the relationship between a sense of belonging to the university and life satisfaction (Effect = 0.029, 95 % CI: 0.012 to 0.051). Depression independently mediated the association between SOB and life satisfaction (Effect = 0.160, 95 % CI: 0.10 to 0.221), whereas loneliness did not serve as a significant independent mediator in the relationship between belonging to the university and life satisfaction (Effect = 0.014, 95 % CI: −0.006 to 0.039). This research enhances comprehension of the fundamental processes linking students' sense of belonging (SOB) with their life satisfaction, offering valuable perspectives for academic institutions to develop strategies to elevate university students' well-being.