Social Connectedness among University Students: A Science Mapping Review

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19704848

Deepika Oli and Samina Bano (Department of Psychology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi)

Among university students, loneliness is emerging as a very serious public health concern. It is found that social disconnection is directly related to mental and physical health risks. Social connectedness is defined as an individual’s sense of belonging and perceived closeness to others. It plays a very important role in academic engagement, psychological well-being, and persistence in university courses. Research is increasing in this field, but the literature on social connectedness in university contexts still remains fragmented. To address this gap, this study uses a bibliometric approach to understand the recent research trends in the field. Data was collected from Scopus, which included the studies from 2018-2025. Bibliographic coupling was done to understand the recent trends in the area of social connectedness among university students. It revealed four major themes: “Situated Social Connectedness in STEM and Marginalized Contexts”; “Conceptualizing, Measuring, and Cultivating Social Connectedness”; “Social Connectedness as a Pathway to Well-Being, Engagement, and Persistence”; and “Social Connectedness as a Political, Relational, and Plural Experience”. It is found that social connectedness is a dynamic, multidimensional, and contextually embedded concept. It is shaped by individual, relational, and structural factors. This study will be useful for researchers, policymakers, and institutions to enhance social connectedness among university students.