Examining the relationship between loneliness and trauma through ecological momentary assessment

Loneliness and trauma are more common in college student populations than previously thought. Research indicates that experiencing traumatic events may make one more susceptible to feelings of loneliness, and this can lead to severely negative psychological states. This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to study feelings of loneliness over the course of one week in a sample of students at San Francisco State University (n = 19). Trauma history was also assessed for each student with self-report questionnaires. Ultimately, we found that history of trauma did not significantly impact the cycle of loneliness, although childhood trauma was trending as a moderator.