Risk in childhood family environments and loneliness in college students: Implications for health.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between risk in family environments and health-relevant outcomes in college and the role of loneliness.

PARTICIPANTS: College students at a state university (N = 360).

METHODS: We utilized linear regression to examine relationships between risk in family environments and loneliness, perceived stress, affect, and self-rated health. We tested for indirect effects of risk in family environments on outcomes through loneliness Results: Analyses showed that risk in family environments associated with loneliness (β = 0.12 t[358] = 2.22, p = .03, R2 change = .02), perceived social stress (β = 0.20, t[357] = 3.88, p < 0.001, R2 change = .04), negative and positive affect (β = 2.44, t[357] = 3.95, p < .001, R2 change = .04), and (β = -0.18 t[357]= -3.44, p = .001, R2 change = .03 respectively), and self-rated health (β = 0.19, t[359] = 4.57, p < .001, R2 change = .10). Significant indirect effects were observed for risk in early family on all outcomes through loneliness.

CONCLUSION: These findings provide initial evidence that risk in childhood family environments may negatively affect health by increasing loneliness in college students.