Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Neha Pandeya ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

Loneliness is a natural and integral part of human beings as are joy, hunger and self-actualization. For more than half a century, researchers have been interested in studying the correlates and consequences of loneliness. Loneliness represents a distressing situation in which one has limited social relationships and holds the perception of being isolated from others. Humans are born alone, and they experience the terror of loneliness in depth, and often much loneliness in between. Although loneliness is recognized as a socially prevalent phenomenon that has been described consistently as very painful, distressing and disturbing, a lonely individual is commonly regarded as deviant or someone who is spoiled or generally undesirable. The present study made an attempt to examine the correlates of loneliness among male and female adolescents. The Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Rotter's Internal External Scale were administered to 50 male and 50 female adolescents. The age range was from 15-18 years. The study revealed significant relationship of loneliness and depression as well as locus of control. The relationship of loneliness to depression remained significant even after partialling out the influence of locus of control. In addition male adolescents were found to be lonelier than female adolescents. Results further revealed significant gender differences in loneliness and its correlates.

Full Text

     

Neha Pandeya ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

As humans we possess a need to belong, which constitutes a fundamental motivation driving our thoughts, emotions and interpersonal behaviour. This need to belong comprises a pervasive desire to form and maintain at least a minimum quantity of lasting positive and significant interpersonal relationships. Consequently, people who experience persistent difficulties in establishing and maintaining satisfying relationships with others, and thus have difficulty satisfying their belonging needs are likely to experience a sense of deprivation, manifested in disturbances such as loneliness. Loneliness has been demonstrated to be associated with a number physical health issues (e.g., poorer immune and cardiovascular functioning, sleep deficiencies). Moreover, some sufferers of loneliness exhibit problematic behaviors such as alcohol or drug abuse, and symptoms including eating or sleep disturbances, fatigue, headaches, as well as disorders including anxiety, or depression, without even realizing the possible involvement of social problems. Nevertheless, irrespective of whether it is recognized as such, chronic loneliness has the potential to substantially interfere with physical health, and should therefore be the subject of intervention efforts.

Keywords

Loneliness, Health Mechanisms.

Full Text

     

Neha Pandeya ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, MCM DAV CoUege, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

The aim of the current investigation was to identify the salient predictors of loneliness among boys and girls. The study was conducted on 110 males and females each in the age range from 15 to 17 years. The sample was drawn randomly from schools in Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali. For this purpose, the tests administered were UCLA Loneliness Scale, Hopelessness Scale, Automatic Thoughts Scale, Family Environment Scale. Results revealed a positive and significant relationship between depression, hopelessness and automatic thoughts for both males and females. The step wise multiple regression analysis revealed depression as the salient predictor for both males and females followed by conflict and negative automatic thoughts.

Keywords

Loneliness, Family Environment and Cognitive Triad.

Full Text