Journal article
Quantitative and Qualitative Factors Associated with Social Isolation Among Graduate and Professional Health Science Students
American journal of pharmaceutical education, Vol.83(7), pp.1558-1569
09/2019
DOI: 10.5688/ajpe6983
PMCID: PMC6788151
PMID: 31619819
Abstract
Objective.
To determine the prevalence of social isolation and associated factors in graduate and professional health science students.
Methods.
Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered via an online survey from graduate and professional students in the colleges of dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and public health at a Midwestern university. Questions assessed students’ demographics, weekly activity hours, support systems, and financial concerns, and included the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Logistic regression was performed using the binary outcome of feeling socially isolated (yes/no) and examined program-related respondent comments using thematic analysis.
Results.
There were 427 survey respondents with 398 completing the full survey. Students answering the social isolation question (n=386) were included in the regression analysis. Nearly one-fifth (19.4%) of respondents indicated social isolation, with the highest percentage among nursing respondents (40.7%). Lacking a strong support, being a non-native English speaker, having caregiving responsibilities, and experiencing “lonely” items described in the UCLA Loneliness Scale were positively associated with social isolation. The ability to discuss feelings with friends in their professional program and experiencing “non-lonely” items were negatively associated with social isolation. Ninety-six comments revealed nine risk factor themes in four categories: individual (feeling different from peers, personality, employment), interpersonal (competition/exclusionary atmosphere, faculty relationship), organization (too busy with coursework, isolating program) and community (relocation reduces social support). Student-involvement in organizations (activities encouraging socialization) and community (support from outside the group) were protective factors.
Conclusion.
Understanding associated factors and designing strategies to reduce student social isolation may enhance the quality and well-being of future health professionals and scientists.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Quantitative and Qualitative Factors Associated with Social Isolation Among Graduate and Professional Health Science Students
- Creators
- Mary Elizabeth Ray - The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IowaJessica Marie Coon - The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IowaAli Azeez Al-Jumaili - The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IowaMiranda Fullerton - The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of pharmaceutical education, Vol.83(7), pp.1558-1569
- Publisher
- American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
- DOI
- 10.5688/ajpe6983
- PMID
- 31619819
- PMCID
- PMC6788151
- ISSN
- 0002-9459
- eISSN
- 1553-6467
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/2019
- Academic Unit
- Pharmacy Practice and Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984154304902771
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