Psychological factors of subjective loneliness feelings in adolescents

Abstract

This article investigates psychological causes of subjective loneliness feelings in adolescents. It presents a theoretical analysis of the loneliness phenomenon, as well as empirical research of this phenomenon in young people. The relevance of studying this psychological phenomenon is determined by the war in Ukraine, forced resettlement, and moving to a new city, or even to another country, distance learning, broken relationships and family separations, and the need to establish new social connections. Loneliness is often considered a problem of older generations, but under current conditions, it is adolescents who increasingly feel lonely. In addition to external objective reasons, individual factors may also affect the development of loneliness. Studying these factors allows for a more in-depth assessment of the scale of loneliness and creates a stronger basis for studying the phenomenon. The characteristics of adolescent loneliness stem from fundamental changes in the affective, motivational, and behavioral spheres of life and the impact of this state on socialization. The article discusses various theoretical approaches to the concept of loneliness in psychological research. The results indicate that the symptom complex of the loneliness concept includes a sense of psychological alienation, the inability to build normal relationships, and the inability to form strong attachments. The article considers three types of loneliness: chronic, situational, and temporary, and outlines characteristics of loneliness feeling experiences in adolescence. The article also identifies factors that influence the development of loneliness in adolescence. In addition, the article empirically studies psychological factors of subjective loneliness in adolescents, including personal and situational anxiety, indicators of aggressiveness, level of self-esteem, and level of sociability in adolescents.