The Effects of Culture on the Meaning of Loneliness

The present study examined the influence of culturalbackground on the experience of loneliness. Threehundred and seventy five participants from NorthAmerica and 375 from Croatia volunteered to answer an82 item questionnaire which examined the quality oftheir loneliness experiences. The factors whichcomprise the experience of loneliness are Emotionaldistress, Social inadequacy and alienation, Growth anddiscovery, Interpersonal isolation, andSelf-alienation. Results indicated that culturalbackground, indeed, affects the experience ofloneliness. North Americans scored higher on all fivefactors, and a similar trend was evident when men andwomen were compared across cultures.     

Private Lives Public Places: Loneliness Of The Homeless

Abstract

At the dawn ofthe 21st century, both loneliness and homelessness are more pervasive than we would possibly like to admit. In this study, the experience of loneliness of the homeless was compared to that of the general population. Two hundred and sixty six homeless and 595 men and women from the general population answered a 30 item yes/no questionnaire. The experience of loneliness is composed ofthe following five factors: Emotional distress, Social inadequacy and alienation, Growth and discovery, Interpersonal isolation, and Self-alienation. The present results indicated that the experience of loneliness for the homeless is significantly different than that of the general population. Gender main effects were explored and discussed.     

Index of Authors Volume 53, 2001

Social Indicators Research -     

Coping with loneliness among the terminally ill

Loneliness is a universal phenomenon, and its pain is intensified by a diagnosis of a terminal illness. The present study is an investigation of the strategies used by patients with Multiple sclerosis (MS), by individuals diagnosed with cancer, and by the general population to cope with loneliness. Three hundred and twenty nine MS patients, 315 cancer patients, and 391 participants from the general population answered a 34-item questionnaire. Results indicated that with the exception of Reflection and acceptance, Distancing and denial, and Increased activity, the three groups cope with loneliness significantly differently.     

Coping with Loneliness and Drug Use in Young Adults

Loneliness is generally a prevailingexperience which is particularly familiar toadolescents and young adults. It is asubjective experience which is influenced byone's personality, life experiences, andsituational variables. The present studyexamined the influence of Ecstasy (MDMA) useon the coping strategies of loneliness. The Ecstasy users were compared to Non-Ecstasy users and to a group of young adults in the general population who are non users of drugs. A total of 818 participants volunteered to answer a 34-item yes/no questionnaire, reflecting on their loneliness experiences and the ways inwhich they coped with it. The strategies which were examined included Acceptance and reflection, Self-development and understanding, Social supportnetwork, Distancing and denial, Religion andfaith and Increased activity. Resultsrevealed significant differences between thescores of the Ecstasy users and the othergroups. Gender differences between and withinthe groups were also examined.     

The Lonely and Homeless: Causes and Consequences

Both, homelessness and loneliness are quite pervasive in North America. This study compared the causes of the loneliness experienced by the homeless to that of the general population. Two hundred and sixty six homeless and five hundred and ninety five men and women from the general population answered a 30 item yes/no questionnaire. The causes of loneliness were composed of the following five factors: Personal inadequacy, Developmental deficits, Unfulfilling intimate relationships, Relocation/significant separations, and Social marginality. The present results indicated that the causes of homeless loneliness are significantly different from those of the general population.