الانتماء الرقمي وعلاقته بالوحدة النفسية لدى طلبة الجامعة

Abstract

The contemporary world is witnessing profound transformations driven by the digital revolution, which has made virtual spaces a new arena for shaping social and psychological identity among youth, particularly university students. Within this context, digital belonging emerges as a sense of integration into online communities that provide recognition and support, in contrast to the phenomenon of psychological loneliness, which reflects the gap between desired and actual relationships. The present study aims to examine the relationship between digital belonging and psychological loneliness among students at Al-Mustansiriyah University. The descriptive-correlational method was employed on a sample of (50) students from the Colleges of Arts and Education during the academic year (2024–2025).

Two main instruments were applied: the Digital Belonging Scale, adapted to the local context, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale – Version 3. The findings revealed that students reported a moderate level of digital belonging, while psychological loneliness was relatively high. Moreover, statistically significant differences in digital belonging were found according to gender, in favor of males. The results also showed a significant negative correlation between digital belonging and psychological loneliness, indicating that higher digital belonging is associated with lower levels of loneliness.

The study concludes that digital belonging functions as a double-edged factor: it can reduce psychological loneliness when based on meaningful and supportive interactions, yet it may intensify loneliness when limited to superficial and formal connections. Accordingly, the researcher recommends developing university programs that promote mindful and positive use of digital platforms and building authentic student digital communities that balance real-life and virtual interactions.