There is a stigma attached to being alone in today’s society, according to research, and some UA students said they feel it.

 

One factor of loneliness is the level of vulnerability to social disconnection, according to an article published in the magazine Psychology Today by psychologist Karyn Hall. Each individual has a genetically set need for social inclusion and when that need is not met, a person may feel isolated and judged, according to the article.  

 

Students at the UofA admit to feeling judged when they don’t think they appear included within a social group. Some said that they feel stigmatized for being seen in public or on campus without a friend or a group of people.

 

“Our culture basically says that your security is found in having friends,” freshman Caroline Coleman said. “When you’re seen alone, implications are made that you don’t have friends, which people would assume would speak to your personality, and you’re being judged. Because of that, I probably wouldn’t go to any kind of event by myself. Half of me is like, ‘I don’t want to go out because I won’t have friends to go with me,’ and half of me is like, ‘I’ll be judged because everyone around me will have friends with them.’”

 

Freshman Savannah Morgan also feels judged when alone on campus, she said.

 

“I still don’t like going to Brough by myself,” Morgan said. “Students sitting alone at Brough at lunchtime can be judged. Everybody comes in with a group of friends and then there are a few people alone and you think, ‘Oh, they don’t have friends,’ and it’s because in certain situations, I think students do judge other students who are alone.”   

The fear of being judged may affect not only where students go on campus, but how active their social lives are.  

 

“I don’t like going to events when I’m alone, either,” Morgan said. “Entering a room with 200 people by yourself is kind of intimidating. That’s like going to sorority events by myself.”

 

To avoid the intimidation, Morgan relies on a group of friends to accompany her to events or social activities.  

 

“Friends make things a little more fun,” Morgan said. “When I’m not comfortable being alone I try to avoid that, and I see what my friends are doing and if they can meet up with me.”  

 

Though students can feel stigmatized for being alone in social settings, there are times when being alone on campus can be acceptable, Morgan said.  

 

“Going to eat is my social time,” she said. “When I’m at Brough I’ve always had someone to sit with, but I’ve never had the opportunity to walk with someone to class, so I’m used to being by myself when I’m walking to class. It’s my ‘me’ time.”

 

Being alone can have its advantages, according to an article in Psych Central by psychologist Ben Martin. The creative person craves time alone. Any professional who takes a sabbatical and spends some time alone returns refreshed mentally and spiritually, according to the article.  

 

Some alone time is necessary and part of the college experience, Morgan said.

 

“Sometimes I feel a better sense of independence when I’m alone,” she said. “When you’re out doing stuff on your own, you’re discovering yourself. You have to become comfortable enough with yourself to do that, and that helps you in life. It helps with your communication skills and helps you be able to get to know people. I think because people care about what other people think about them and haven’t reached that stage of being comfortable with themselves yet, they do feel judged when they’re alone.”

 

Coleman agrees that the fear of being judged for being alone should not stop individuals from pursuing what they want, she said.

 

“People should feel comfortable enough to do whatever they want to do without being judged,” she said. “We’re all individuals. We all have significance.”

Students Feel Judged When Alone on Campus

By Isabel Dobrin

 

There is a stigma attached to being alone in today’s society, according to research, and some UA students said they feel it.

 

One factor of loneliness is the level of vulnerability to social disconnection, according to an article published in the magazine Psychology Today by psychologist Karyn Hall. Each individual has a genetically set need for social inclusion and when that need is not met, a person may feel isolated and judged, according to the article.  

 

Students at the UofA admit to feeling judged when they don’t think they appear included within a social group. Some said that they feel stigmatized for being seen in public or on campus without a friend or a group of people.

 

“Our culture basically says that your security is found in having friends,” freshman Caroline Coleman said. “When you’re seen alone, implications are made that you don’t have friends, which people would assume would speak to your personality, and you’re being judged. Because of that, I probably wouldn’t go to any kind of event by myself. Half of me is like, ‘I don’t want to go out because I won’t have friends to go with me,’ and half of me is like, ‘I’ll be judged because everyone around me will have friends with them.’”

 

Freshman Savannah Morgan also feels judged when alone on campus, she said.

 

“I still don’t like going to Brough by myself,” Morgan said. “Students sitting alone at Brough at lunchtime can be judged. Everybody comes in with a group of friends and then there are a few people alone and you think, ‘Oh, they don’t have friends,’ and it’s because in certain situations, I think students do judge other students who are alone.”   

The fear of being judged may affect not only where students go on campus, but how active their social lives are.  

 

“I don’t like going to events when I’m alone, either,” Morgan said. “Entering a room with 200 people by yourself is kind of intimidating. That’s like going to sorority events by myself.”

 

To avoid the intimidation, Morgan relies on a group of friends to accompany her to events or social activities.  

 

“Friends make things a little more fun,” Morgan said. “When I’m not comfortable being alone I try to avoid that, and I see what my friends are doing and if they can meet up with me.”  

 

Though students can feel stigmatized for being alone in social settings, there are times when being alone on campus can be acceptable, Morgan said.  

 

“Going to eat is my social time,” she said. “When I’m at Brough I’ve always had someone to sit with, but I’ve never had the opportunity to walk with someone to class, so I’m used to being by myself when I’m walking to class. It’s my ‘me’ time.”

 

Being alone can have its advantages, according to an article in Psych Central by psychologist Ben Martin. The creative person craves time alone. Any professional who takes a sabbatical and spends some time alone returns refreshed mentally and spiritually, according to the article.  

 

Some alone time is necessary and part of the college experience, Morgan said.

 

“Sometimes I feel a better sense of independence when I’m alone,” she said. “When you’re out doing stuff on your own, you’re discovering yourself. You have to become comfortable enough with yourself to do that, and that helps you in life. It helps with your communication skills and helps you be able to get to know people. I think because people care about what other people think about them and haven’t reached that stage of being comfortable with themselves yet, they do feel judged when they’re alone.”

 

Coleman agrees that the fear of being judged for being alone should not stop individuals from pursuing what they want, she said.

 

“People should feel comfortable enough to do whatever they want to do without being judged,” she said. “We’re all individuals. We all have significance.”