Loneliness is associated with eating disorders among a national sample of U.S. college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

To identify the association between loneliness and eating disorder symptomatology among a national sample of U.S. college students during COVID-19. Cross-sectional data from the 2020-2021 Healthy Minds Study ( = 96,645) were analyzed. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale and eating disorder symptomology was measured using the SCOFF questionnaire. Multiple modified Poisson regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for confounding variables. Greater loneliness was associated with both a positive eating disorder screen (risk ratio [RR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.10) and greater number of eating disorder symptoms (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.06-1.08). Gender modified this relationship, and men who endorsed greater loneliness had higher risk of eating disorder symptomatology compared to women. Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a greater risk of eating disorder symptomatology among college students. Findings underscore the need for social support and eating disorders programming on college campuses.