Fostering inclusivity: Navigating loneliness and wellbeing among Nigerian international students in the UK Higher Education

Abstract Background Loneliness is a state of solitude or being alone. Research addressing loneliness has increased dramatically over the past two decades; however, despite the psychological state risks related to being lonely, the connection between loneliness and mental health disorders still needs to be sufficiently explored. Loneliness is when one’s relationships do not meet the psychosocial needs and expectations. Loneliness is a state of emotion that can be a barrier to social development and, at the same time, impact physical health and mental state. However, loneliness may be a distressing and pervasive experience, defined as the feeling that one’s desired quantity or quality of the social connection is unfulfilled. Method A qualitative primary research study was conducted for this study. The participants were selected using the purposive sampling method, and 8 participants of Nigerian origin were interviewed for this research. The participants interviewed were of Yoruba, Benin and Igbo origin; therefore, the results cannot represent the entire Nigerian population because it is missing the Hausa tribe. The data were analysed using the thematic analysis method. Ethical approval was obtained from the institution. Results The most salient themes were Voices of Loneliness: International Students’ Coping Strategies and Personal Journeys; Building Bridges: The Role of Community and Social Networks in Overcoming Loneliness; Exploring the Emotional Turmoil and Coping Mechanisms in a Foreign Landscape; Navigating New Realities: The Integration and Adaptation Challenges of International Students and Navigating Loneliness and Seeking Connection. The results showed that feelings of loneliness could result from emotional, psychological, or mental health and the problematic aspect of adaptation to the UK weather, as this greatly impacted their studies. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on understanding each student’s cultural background, assisting international students in examining their bicultural realities to recognise how clients internalise and adhere to culture considering their Nigerian cultural identities and values.