International students' loneliness, depression and stress levels in COVID-19 crisis. The role of social media and the host university

TL;DR

This study examines how social media, university satisfaction, and social capital influence loneliness, depression, and stress among international students during COVID-19 lockdowns, highlighting key psychological impacts.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the relationships between social media use, social capital, and mental health among international students during the pandemic.

Findings

Strong correlations between anxiety, loneliness, and COVID-19-related stress.

Social capital and university satisfaction are linked to lower loneliness and depression.

Social media's role in mitigating negative emotions is highlighted.

Abstract

The move to university life is characterized by strong emotions, some of them negative, such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression. These negative emotions are strengthened due to the obligatory lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous research indicates association among the use of social media, university satisfaction, and the aforementioned emotions. We report findings from 248 international undergraduates in The Netherlands, all students at the International School of Business. Our results indicate strong correlations between anxiety, loneliness, and COVID-19-related stress with university satisfaction together with social capital. Keywords: COVID-19; Pandemic; lockdown; loneliness; depression; anxiety; international students