Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Kristjen Lundberg
Abstract
A sense of belonging is a fundamental human need (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Maslow, 1943). On college campuses, students’ need to belong is often satisfied by interactions with peers. Friends comprise the largest component of college students’ social network, and good friendships provide a variety of resources, such as companionship, help, and emotional security. When students lack high-quality friendships, they are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness. However, there are likely important individual differences in the relationship between friendship quality and loneliness. The cognitive discrepancy theory of loneliness suggests that loneliness arises when there is a gap between the desired and actual levels of social connectedness (Perlman & Peplau, 1998). Consistent with this theory, Mellor (2008) demonstrated that unmet belonging needs are linked to loneliness, indicating that larger gaps between the need for belonging and relationship satisfaction are associated with higher levels of loneliness.
The current study aims to replicate the cognitive discrepancy perspective on loneliness within the context of college friendships. It is hypothesized that, on average, individuals with higher friendship quality will experience lower loneliness. However, friendship quality will be a weaker predictor of loneliness for those who have a lower (versus higher) need to belong. I tested these hypotheses using quantitative methods in Study 1, then employed a qualitative approach in Study 2 to develop a richer understanding of student narratives about peer relationships, differing levels of need to belong, and on-campus experiences.
Recommended Citation
Hong, Yuting, "Loneliness by Choice or By Circumstance?: Examining the Relationship Between Friendship, Need to Belong, and Loneliness" (2025). Honors Theses. 1819.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/1819
