000162434 001__ 162434
000162434 005__ 20251017144614.0
000162434 0247_ $$2doi$$a10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1553490
000162434 0248_ $$2sideral$$a145019
000162434 037__ $$aART-2025-145019
000162434 041__ $$aeng
000162434 100__ $$aHernández-Díaz, Rogelio
000162434 245__ $$aAnalysis of young students' perception of loneliness: a cross-sectional study
000162434 260__ $$c2025
000162434 5060_ $$aAccess copy available to the general public$$fUnrestricted
000162434 5203_ $$aIntroduction
Loneliness, a multidimensional emotional experience resulting from unmet social needs, affects individuals across demographics and is particularly prevalent among youth. It can be social or emotional and is linked to developmental transitions, reduced social networks, mental health conditions, and excessive social media use. Unlike desired solitude, loneliness is involuntary and associated with significant physical and mental health risks, including depression, suicide, and chronic illnesses. Despite its public health impact, youth loneliness remains underrecognized, necessitating tailored interventions. This study examines its prevalence and relationship with sociodemographic factors, social support, social media use, self-esteem, and health among students in Aragon.
Methods
This cross-sectional study investigated loneliness among adolescents and young adults (14–30 years) studying in Zaragoza, Spain, using online surveys conducted in March–April 2024. A sample of 536 participants was selected based on inclusion criteria, including informed consent. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, alongside sociodemographic, social, and psychological variables such as self-esteem, health, mental health, and social media use. Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of loneliness.
Results
The study sample comprised 73.7% women, with an average age of 20 years. Among participants, 45.9% were high school students and 54.1% university students. Higher loneliness levels are associated with spending more time on social media, fewer and lower-quality relationships, lower self-esteem, poorer self-perceived health, and having mental health problems. While no significant gender or age differences were found, the UCLA Loneliness Scale identified 31.2% of participants as lonely, and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale classified 49.1% with moderate loneliness and 27.1% with severe loneliness.
Discussion
This study highlights the high prevalence of loneliness among young individuals, affecting approximately two-thirds of the population aged 14–30. The findings underscore the importance of addressing loneliness as a public health concern, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. Further research is needed to develop effective prevention, detection, and intervention strategies tailored to youth, which could be implemented through Primary Care and educational institutions.
000162434 536__ $$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/B21-23R-GAIAP$$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/RD24-0005/0004
000162434 540__ $$9info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess$$aby$$uhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es
000162434 655_4 $$ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/article$$vinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
000162434 700__ $$aNavarro-Vásquez, Lucas
000162434 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0003-2683-7346$$aAguilar-Latorre, Alejandra$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000162434 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-6409-9041$$aMéndez-López, Fátima$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000162434 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-3723-0673$$aGascón-Santos, Santiago$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000162434 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-5494-6550$$aMagallón-Botaya, Rosa$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000162434 7102_ $$11006$$2255$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería$$cÁrea Enfermería
000162434 7102_ $$11007$$2610$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.$$cArea Medicina
000162434 7102_ $$14009$$2735$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Psicología y Sociología$$cÁrea Psicolog.Evolut.Educac
000162434 7102_ $$14009$$2680$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Psicología y Sociología$$cÁrea Person.Eval.Trat.Psicoló.
000162434 773__ $$g16 (2025), 1553490 [12 pp.]$$pFront. psychol.$$tFrontiers in Psychology$$x1664-1078
000162434 8564_ $$s274638$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/162434/files/texto_completo.pdf$$yVersión publicada
000162434 8564_ $$s2337305$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/162434/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon$$xicon$$yVersión publicada
000162434 909CO $$ooai:zaguan.unizar.es:162434$$particulos$$pdriver
000162434 951__ $$a2025-10-17-14:18:40
000162434 980__ $$aARTICLE