Developing a Counselling Intervention for Managing Loneliness Among First-Year University Students in Plateau State

First-year university transition is associated with heightened loneliness risk due to disruption of established social networks, and psychologically informed counselling interventions targeting this transition period can significantly reduce adjustment difficulties. This study developed and piloted a counselling intervention for managing loneliness among first-year students at the University of Jos, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A programme development and pilot evaluation approach was adopted. Baseline assessment of 200 first-year students using the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 showed that 48.5 percent reported moderate to high loneliness at six weeks post-enrolment. A six-session group counselling intervention was developed combining interpersonal skills training, social network building strategies, cognitive reframing of loneliness narratives, and structured peer connection activities. The intervention was delivered to 40 high-loneliness first-year students, with 40 matched high-loneliness students serving as a waitlist comparison group. Post-intervention assessment showed significant reductions in loneliness scores in the intervention group (t = 5.87, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.62) compared to the control group. Social self-efficacy scores improved significantly in the intervention group (p < 0.001). Participant satisfaction was high (mean 4.5 out of 5). The study recommends formalising this intervention as part of the University of Jos first-year counselling programme and piloting across multiple Nigerian universities to establish broader applicability. Keywords: loneliness, first-year university students, counselling intervention, Plateau State, transition adjustment