Adolescents, emerging adults, and parents views on involuntary loneliness among young people

Abstract Increasing evidence shows that young people are particularly predisposed to experiencing loneliness. The aim was to develop a nuanced understanding of what can cause and what might mitigate experiences of involuntary loneliness among adolescents and emerging adults as seen from adolescents’, emerging adults’, and parents’ perspectives. A qualitative approach and reflexive thematic analysis were used. A total of eleven participants (8 adolescents/emerging adults, 3 parents) participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Six main themes and fourteen subthemes emerged. The main themes were: Involuntary loneliness has a negative impact on adolescents’ and emerging adults’ well-being, Challenges within contemporary youth culture that cause loneliness, Life circumstances that hinder connections and cause involuntary loneliness, Intervention systems that counteract involuntary loneliness, Supportive systems that mitigates involuntary loneliness, and System changes in policy and advocacy to offset loneliness. Involuntary loneliness among young people is a complex problem requiring a variety of different approaches. Young people need support in finding and building deeper friendships that can facilitate a profound connection and countervail and alleviate involuntary loneliness, thus strengthening their well-being. The mechanisms underlying the link between social media use and involuntary loneliness should be further investigated. The stigma surrounding seeking help that young people might experience should be prevented by increasing information about loneliness as a common problem and introducing individualistic approaches within healthcare that can help alleviate loneliness among young people.