UK universities are showing what Aldermore Bank considers to be a “loneliness epidemic,” with 33% of students admitting to feeling lonely. Of that number, nearly two thirds of those students affected have considered dropping out. New research suggests that living with other students helps to book mental health.
The loneliness epidemic
Aldermore Bank says, “Nearly four out of 10 students (39%) admit to feeling socially disconnected from other students and more than a third (36%) report often going a whole day without a meaningful in-person interaction.
“For those who have experienced loneliness, they are seeing grades suffer (73%), whilst nearly two-thirds have (63%) considered dropping out of university altogether.”
Shared living spaces combat the isolation issue
Despite this, different accommodation types seem to have different results.
Aldermore says that “Shared living spaces help students in HMOs feel emotionally connected (48%) and living with other students boosts their mental health (39%).”
One in four (23%) students say that have shared areas like communal spaces in their accommodation is what helps them build the emotional connection with others.
Students who live in a house in multiple occupation (HMO) – a property rented out by three or more people, with shared facilities e.g. a kitchen or bathrooms – have even higher results of better mental health (48%).
According to the Aldermore research, “Two in five students living in an HMO say their flatmate relationships boost their mental health (39%), while many are finding deep connections with each other; a third (34%) of HMO occupants can have important conversations with their flatmates that they’d never have with friends or family.”
Good landlords mindful of isolated tenants
Aware of the student loneliness epidemic, it has been reported that many landlords have been proactive in checking on their student tenants’ mental health.
Aldermore says that “one in five students who are in contact with their landlord say they have checked in to see how they were and offered help (21%).”
Some students (13%) even go as far as stating that they view their landlord as a “surrogate parent” while they are away from home, due to the fact they go to them with any housing issues and especially now that some landlords providing emotional support.
Universities taking action
Some universities try their best to support their students through counselling services being made available and Personal Tutors or senior students/‘buddies’ being assigned to check in on first years.
University halls also tend to have a supervisor that checks in on student wellbeing and mental health each term too, to ensure they are settling in smoothly and to tackle any housing issues that have arisen such as flatmate disputes.
Jon Cooper, director of mortgages at Aldermore said:
“University is often talked about as a once in a lifetime experience where you meet lifelong friends and have unforgettable experiences. But it can come with its challenges as people are away from their family and friends, often for the first time.
“Shared living spaces can make all the difference, providing important in-person interactions and helping struggling students to feel less alone. At Aldermore, we’re proud to support good landlords to offer quality housing, such as HMOs, to the student population.”
