SESSION OVERVIEW
Postgraduate research students are disproportionately affected by loneliness, social isolation, and mental health challenges. This session will present findings from my PhD research, comprising a systematic review, a longitudinal quantitative study, and two qualitative studies exploring the role of loneliness, social isolation, and belongingness in shaping PGR student wellbeing. The session will conclude with evidence-based recommendations for universities and students’ unions to strengthen community, promote belonging, and improve mental health outcomes for postgraduate researchers.
Session Outcomes:
This session will examine loneliness as an important predictor of mental health outcomes among postgraduate researchers and highlight the critical role of belongingness in supporting wellbeing. Drawing on recent research, it will outline key areas where universities and students’ unions can take action to reduce loneliness, strengthen community, and improve the overall student experience for PGR students.
PRESENTER
Dr Luqmaan Waqar is the President of King’s College London Students’ Union and a recent PhD graduate of King’s College London. His doctoral research investigated the effects of loneliness, social isolation and belongingness on the mental health of postgraduate research students and young adults, with a focus on understanding factors that support wellbeing and community connection.