Analysis of the Loneliness Perception of Young Students in Aragón, Spain

Lucas Navarro Vásquez, Rogelio Hernandez Diaz, Marimar Martínez, David Lerma Irureta, Fátima Mendez López, Alejandra López Aguilar, Rosa Magallón Botaya

Keywords: teenagers, young adults, loneliness, health, mental health, Primary Care

Background:

Loneliness is defined as a feeling of emotional discomfort resulting from the discrepancy between the desired and actual quality and/or quantity of interpersonal relationships. It has been scarcely analyzed among youth.

Research questions:

What is the prevalence of loneliness among adolescents and young adults?
How do sociodemographic factors, mobile phone and social media use, self-esteem, and mental health correlate with loneliness?

Method:

This descriptive observational cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey among students aged 14-30 from high school and university, during March and April 2024. The main variables were measured using the UCLA and De Jong Gierveld loneliness scales, examining their relationship with gender, age, social relationships, mobile phone use, self-esteem, and self-perceived health.

Results:

A total of 413 students participated, with an average age of 19 years, 71% of whom were women. Findings indicated that 23% never felt lonely, 56.2% sometimes, 19.1% often, and 1.7% always felt lonely. Among those feeling lonely, 41.1% had experienced loneliness for over a year. The UCLA scale classified 39.3% as lonely, while the De Jong Gierveld scale identified 30.7% as not lonely, 57.9% as moderately lonely, and 11.4% as severely lonely. Higher levels of loneliness were associated with belonging to the LGBTIQ+ community, higher mobile and social media use, lower education levels, fewer and poorer quality social relationships, lower self-esteem, worse self-perceived health, and mental health issues.

Conclusions:

Loneliness is prevalent among youth, affecting two out of three individuals aged 14-30. This study highlights the need for targeted prevention and detection strategies, including a youth-specific loneliness scale and intervention plans through Primary Care, Mental Health services, and educational institutions.

Points for discussion:

Development of targeted intervention strategies to address loneliness in youth.

Role of educational institutions and healthcare providers in mitigating loneliness.

Implications of digital media usage on youth loneliness and mental health.

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