Accommodation environments and student mental health in the UK: the role of relational spaces.

BACKGROUND: Despite Universities UK emphasising a "whole university approach" to improve mental health and wellbeing, quantitative research exploring the role of accommodation environments in student mental health is limited. AIM: To explore the effects of physical and social structures on university student mental health in the UK. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional sample of newly acquainted student residents living in shared accommodation in North West England (n = 904), this study sought to investigate how accommodation environments influence students' mental health with a focus on the concept of relational spaces. RESULTS: Within the milieu of university accommodation, a low sense of belonging and feeling uncomfortable were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Poor relationships with fellow residents and not using communal areas were associated with higher levels of depression and loneliness, whilst sharing cooking with others was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: For students to flourish in their new homes, accommodation providers must consider relational wellbeing, making places that foster a sense of belonging where students feel sufficiently connected to others. As empowering communities and promoting community cohesion is central to health and wellbeing promotion, greater efforts need to be made to consider relational aspects of space and wellbeing in the design and stewardship of student accommodation.

The role of accommodation environments in student mental health and wellbeing.

BACKGROUND: Due to the increasing concern over student mental health and wellbeing, attention has turned to the matter of creating environments, communities, and institutions which enable students to flourish. METHODS: To explore the role of accommodation environments in first year student mental health and wellbeing, eight focus groups were conducted in two universities in North West England and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three overarching themes were identified: 'The betwixt space'; 'Accommodations as vessels to cultivate friendships and communities'; and 'The importance of accommodation-based pastoral staff'. As attachment to place and relationships with significant others are disrupted by the transition, this leaves young people vulnerable whilst they go through a process to re-attach to new people and a new environment, and loneliness and social isolation were keenly felt during this period. Physical attributes of place that prevent social cohesion further exacerbated feelings of loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: As it is common for students to withdraw physically and psychologically when they do not form friendships within their flat, accommodation-based pastoral staff have an important role to fulfil. Although these findings demonstrate the importance of the human element within accommodation, designing places that facilitate community, a sense of we-ness, and belonging is crucial.

Attachment Anxiety and Problematic Social Media Use: The Mediating Role of Well-Being.

Insecure attachment is associated with a myriad of maladaptive outcomes, including low well-being and problematic Internet use. The lack of research investigating the roles that interpersonal attachment styles and psychological well-being play in problematic social media use is surprising. To address this gap, 915 young people aged 18-25 years (M = 20.19, SD = 1.58) completed an online survey measuring attachment styles, psychological well-being, and problematic social media use. We found that both greater attachment anxiety and less avoidance in attachment relationships were associated with problematic use of social media. The data further indicated that there was a significant indirect effect of attachment anxiety on problematic social media use through general feelings of psychological well-being, suggesting that individuals characterized by anxious attachment styles may be using social media as a means of enhancing psychological well-being. As psychological well-being was found to be negatively associated with problematic social media use, our findings bolster calls for enhancing young people's well-being. However, causality cannot be fully established due to the cross-sectional design of this study.

Childhood maltreatment and problematic social media use: The role of attachment and depression.

Childhood maltreatment is associated with many maladaptive outcomes. This study sought to examine the association between childhood maltreatment and problematic social media use using a cross-sectional sample of young adults aged 17-25 years (n = 1029). Specifically, we studied whether the relationship is mediated through (i) attachment anxiety, (ii) attachment avoidance, or (iii) both attachment dimensions operating in series with depressive symptoms. Results revealed that a history of childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with more problematic social media use. Both anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions independently mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and problematic use of social media, but in opposing directions. Avoidant attachment was associated with less problematic social media use, whilst anxious attachment was associated with more problematic social media use. Avoidant attachment and depressive symptoms in series accounted for part of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and problematic social media use. Anxious attachment and depressive symptoms in series fully mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and problematic social media use. The results suggest that childhood maltreatment may influence social media use directly, but also indirectly. People experiencing depressive symptoms may overuse social media in an attempt to alleviate their distress. However, causality cannot be established with the current design.