What the study found
Loneliness was associated with more alcohol-related consequences among heavy-drinking college students, even after accounting for how much alcohol they consumed. The association appeared both across students and when students felt lonelier than usual.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors suggest these findings help explain how some students may use alcohol to cope with loneliness or to manage a perceived lack of social connection. The study indicates alcohol use may relate to a thwarted need to belong.
What the researchers tested
The researchers studied 591 heavy-drinking college students over 12 months. They examined whether loneliness was related to alcohol-related consequences and whether coping, social, enhancement, and conformity drinking motives explained that relationship, using generalized linear mixed models.
What worked and what didn't
Higher loneliness was linked to more alcohol-related consequences at the between-person level, meaning students who were generally lonelier reported more problems than less lonely students. This association was mediated by coping and social drinking motives. At the within-person level, students reported more alcohol-related consequences when they felt lonelier than usual, and this association was mediated by coping, social, and conformity motives.
What to keep in mind
The summary describes a sample of heavy-drinking college students, so the findings are specific to that group. The abstract does not describe other limitations beyond the study scope.
Key points
- Heavy-drinking college students who were more lonely reported more alcohol-related consequences.
- The loneliness–consequences link remained after controlling for the amount of alcohol consumed.
- Coping and social drinking motives mediated the overall between-person association.
- When students felt lonelier than usual, they also reported more alcohol-related consequences.
- Within-person links were mediated by coping, social, and conformity motives.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Loneliness was linked to more alcohol-related consequences in college students
- Authors:
- Lindsey M. Rodriguez, Yali Philipson, Clayton Neighbors
- Institutions:
- University of Florida, University of Houston
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-08
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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