Loneliness is increasingly recognised as an important determinant of mental health and is therefore of particular concern among university students. The current study examined the relationships between gender, loneliness and their interaction with mental health. The study sample consisted of 260 students aged 18 and 27 from the local university in Bangi who completed a web-based survey. Correlation and t-test were used to examine the associations and differences between loneliness and mental health as a function of gender. The findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between loneliness and the components of mental health: loneliness and depression (r = 0.50, p<0.01), loneliness and anxiety (r = 0.41, p<0.01) and loneliness and stress (r= 0.47, p<0.01). In contrast, the findings indicated that there is no significant difference between the components of mental health and stress, depression and anxiety based on gender. There is no significant difference in loneliness scores between male respondents (M=44.43, SD=8.79) and female respondents (M=44.85, S.D = 8.10; t (260) =-.39, p=0.69, two-tailed. There is no significant difference in depression scores between male respondents (M=15.24, SD=11.57) and female respondents (M=14.96, SD=10.86); t (260) = .196, p=0.85. No significant different in anxiety scores between male respondents (M=14.72, SP=10.72) and female respondents (M=15.20, SP=9.76); t (260) = -.364, p=0.711. The results suggest an important finding that provides insights about the loneliness and mental health among a local university student that will help to prevent mental health deterioration. Further implications and directions for future research is also discussed.
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