Loneliness in Undergraduate Students: Causes of Social and Emotional Loneliness

Ward, Leah (2022) Loneliness in Undergraduate Students: Causes of Social and Emotional Loneliness. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Aims: The current study set out to determine whether loneliness was prevalent in young adults attending undergraduate degrees. This study also aimed to determine the causes of social and emotional loneliness while researching intervention and coping strategies that individuals find helpful when they are suffering from feelings of loneliness.

Method: The UCLA Revised Loneliness scale was utilised for this study in order to determine if there were significant levels of loneliness in the population (n = 60). An independent samples t-test was run to determine if there were significant differences in age categories. A qualitative approach was also taken and to examine the leading causes and coping strategies for loneliness.

Results: Results showed that there are significant levels of loneliness amongst young people attending undergraduate courses. The results also determined that from the age group 18-26 there are no significant differences in levels of loneliness within this age group.

Conclusion: Findings of this study provide us with a greater understanding of loneliness and some of the main causes of social and emotional loneliness. This study also provides coping strategies that participants who suffer from loneliness have identified as being helpful. The important findings of this study support recent research in challenging the idea that loneliness is more prevalent in older adults. Acknowledging the causes of loneliness and developing coping mechanisms allows for more detailed intervention methods in order to help those who are suffering from loneliness.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Emotions
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Clara Chan
Date Deposited:	21 Jul 2022 11:18
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2022 11:18
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/5685

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