Loneliness: Its Bearing on Quality of Life among Young Adults

Page: 305-310
Bhawna Devi and Aashna Agrawal (Department of Psychology, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, Delhi)

The deteriorating effects of loneliness on physical and mental health are well known. With the pandemic increasing social disconnectedness beyond measure, the debilitating effects of loneliness are being increasingly recognised. While loneliness among older adults has been extensively researched, fewer lines of research have explored the impact of loneliness among young adults in spite of it being termed an epidemic. The present research aims to fill this gap by studying the impact of loneliness on the quality of life among young adults (N=290). Loneliness levels were found to be high irrespective of gender and family structures. The results also showed a negative, significant correlation between loneliness levels and quality of life across physical, psychological, social and environmental domains of health. The findings demonstrate the need for immediate action towards building social support in a world where technology and social isolation have resulted in the dwindling quality of relationships.