Relationship between Existential Meaninglessness and Loneliness among Young Adults

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21274923

Vilakshna Singh, Kaushalendra Mani Tripathi, and Akshita Lamba (Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Amity University Noida, Uttar Pradesh)

Young adulthood is a significant developmental stage during which individuals establish and shape their identities, gain independence, and acquire new social roles and responsibilities. During this transitional phase, individuals often struggle with existential concerns related to meaning, direction, individuality, and interpersonal relationships. Loneliness and existential meaninglessness have emerged as common psychological concerns among young adults in contemporary society. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between existential meaninglessness and loneliness among young adults. A total of 145 young adults aged 1830 years participated in the study using convenience sampling. Data were collected via online questionnaires using the Existential Meaninglessness Scale (Schnell, 2009) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, 1996). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and Pearson’s product-moment correlation was applied to examine the relationship between the variables. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between existential meaninglessness and loneliness, indicating that individuals with higher levels of meaninglessness were more likely to experience greater loneliness and social disconnection. The study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the psychological interplay between internal purpose and external social relationships during young adulthood. The findings further emphasize the importance of addressing both existential and relational dimensions in promoting the psychological well-being of young adults.