TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining Differences, Relationships, and Predictors for Loneliness in an Adult Population
T2 - The Roles of Personal Characteristics, Place of Residence, Leisure Activities, Mental Health, and Social Outcomes
AU - Tzouvara, Vasiliki
AU - Kupdere, Pinar
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.
PY - 2022/9/19
Y1 - 2022/9/19
N2 - Loneliness is associated with poor mental and social outcomes globally. The literature suggests an association between loneliness and personal characteristics, place of residence, and leisure activities. However, the current literature has produced inconsistent findings and has focused largely on older adults. This study is one of the first to examine the differences, relationships, and predictors of loneliness in an adult population, and the roles of personal characteristics, place of residence, leisure activities, mental health, and social outcomes. A cross-sectional online survey was undertaken. A sample of 155 adults responded, with a mean age of 34.5 years (SD = 13.2), and with 54.1% identifying as female. An analysis revealed experiences of loneliness across the sample. In addition, age was moderately associated with loneliness, while psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and social networks were significantly associated with loneliness. Depressive symptoms were a positive predictor for loneliness, and social networks were a negative predictor for loneliness. This study has confirmed findings from previous research and provided new information on loneliness, which can guide future research and interventions to prevent or support people who suffer from loneliness.
AB - Loneliness is associated with poor mental and social outcomes globally. The literature suggests an association between loneliness and personal characteristics, place of residence, and leisure activities. However, the current literature has produced inconsistent findings and has focused largely on older adults. This study is one of the first to examine the differences, relationships, and predictors of loneliness in an adult population, and the roles of personal characteristics, place of residence, leisure activities, mental health, and social outcomes. A cross-sectional online survey was undertaken. A sample of 155 adults responded, with a mean age of 34.5 years (SD = 13.2), and with 54.1% identifying as female. An analysis revealed experiences of loneliness across the sample. In addition, age was moderately associated with loneliness, while psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and social networks were significantly associated with loneliness. Depressive symptoms were a positive predictor for loneliness, and social networks were a negative predictor for loneliness. This study has confirmed findings from previous research and provided new information on loneliness, which can guide future research and interventions to prevent or support people who suffer from loneliness.
KW - loneliness
KW - mental health outcomes
KW - personal characteristics
KW - predictors
KW - social outcomes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138615703&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/socsci11090425
DO - 10.3390/socsci11090425
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85138615703
SN - 2076-0760
VL - 11
JO - Social Sciences
JF - Social Sciences
IS - 9
M1 - 425
ER -
