Roles of loneliness and life satisfaction in the relationship between perceived friend social support, positive feelings about the future and loss of motivation

Abstract

Purpose: University students often face psychological challenges, particularly loneliness and hopelessness, which are exacerbated by factors such as limited social interactions, economic uncertainty, lack of employment opportunities, and the increasing prevalence of online education. This study aims to investigate the relationships among perceived friend social support, loneliness, life satisfaction, and the sub-dimensions of hopelessness, which are positive feelings about the future and loss of motivation. Design/methodology/approach: This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 420 university students who completed a series of self-reported measures, including the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Findings: The findings revealed that perceived friend social support was positively associated with life satisfaction and positive future feelings and negatively associated with loneliness and loss of motivation. Both loneliness and life satisfaction individually and serially mediated the relationships between social support and the dimensions of hopelessness. Conclusion: These results highlight the crucial role of friend-based social support in alleviating loneliness and improving life satisfaction, thereby fostering optimism and preventing motivational decline among students. The findings provide valuable insights for designing interventions to enhance emotional well-being and psychological resilience among university populations.