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The Role of Social Relationships with Peers and Teachers for Undergraduate Students’ Subjective Wellbeing in the Context of University Synchronous Online Learning
Social interactions with peers and teachers significantly impact students’ subjective wellbeing (SWB), influencing their achievements, mental health, and motivation. Students who study online often lack these interactions, leading to lower SWB. However, studies show differences in the experience of social relationships within different contexts. Therefore, by examining the specific context of an online programme integrated within the university with partially regulated social interactions and active students and teachers’ engagement in the learning process, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the online students' social experiences, distinct from other online learning formats. The aim of the present study was to find out what such students find important in social interactions for their SWB and whether they are satisfied with the quality of these interactions while studying online. To gather insights from the experiences of participants, data was collected from eight semi-structured interviews with 2nd year undergraduate students of a synchronous online programme. Thematic analysis revealed the importance of communication for SWB in university, noting the significance of relationships with teachers and peers. While participants recognised the lack of personal social interactions with online peers, they found that academic communication with them may decrease their feeling of detachment. Teacher relationships had a pivotal role in students SWB and positive learning experience, suggesting that strong teacher support can offset a potential decrease in student SWB in online programs with limited peer interactions.