TABLE 4.

Exemplary quote by identified theme.

Theme	Quote	Participant, line number
The lack of deep friendship and meaningful interaction at the university	“They are not people you go to. You may have 300 people you would go and have a night out with or… go to a sports tournament because you are in the team but they are not the people you would talk to when you need to talk to someone and wouldn’t talk to any of them”	1, 124–126
	“We are no longer friends we just had something in common THEN, it was so superficial”	3, 46–47
	“They probably like you for interest like if you were a good student and just with you because of that interest, or if you were good at parties”	3, 49–51
Subtheme: Supportive romantic relationships	“I have a person I can meet anytime. A person who writes to me and asks about me and worries about me”	3, 67–68
	“You have always somebody to talk to or somebody to be there with”	1, 423–423
Physical activity and team environment	“I guess your friendship in your TEAM, there will be more friction, but often it will lead you to being close”	2, 132–133
	“You would feel less lonely in comparison to, I imagine someone who just goes to lectures and seminars”	2, 143–146
	“For me personally it’s the group situation, I ONLY play team sports. You BECOME a team”	1, 187–188
The need for real connection in times of crisis	“It’s just staring at a screen, it’s not real”	4, 198–198
	“It makes certain situations more challenging because obviously people aren’t physically there to support you and the phone might just not do it”	3, 155–157
	“If you’re having a deep conversation and then you want to hug the person you cannot do it”	4, 171–172
	“I’m more…CONNECTED to a person by seeing them”	2, 160–161