You can be your Tool to Loneliness: A Qualitative Study on Intrapersonal Solutions for Loneliness among Young Adults

Abstract

Loneliness is related to both negative mental and physical health outcomes. This distress is especially prevalent among young adults due to the increasing feelings of loneliness they experience. Much research has examined social-orientated solutions for loneliness and various coping strategies for older adults to apply. However, we know little about intrapersonal solutions for young adults specifically. Therefore this study aims to identify intrapersonal solutions for loneliness and gain insight into how these solutions can contribute to coping with loneliness among young adults. I examine this with a qualitative research design by analyzing existing data from 17 in-depth interviews with participants from Austria, Bulgaria, Egypt, India, and Israel. Results indicate that young adults most frequently apply solitary involvement, reflection, solitude, distractions, and characterological changes as personal solutions to cope with their loneliness. Regarding the effectiveness of these intrapersonal solutions, results suggest that intrapersonal solutions mainly provide young adults valuable short-term support in dealing with loneliness as it distracts them from their feelings of loneliness, rather than tackling the core problem. A possible implication is to provide young adults with information on loneliness and possible intrapersonal solutions as mentioned in this study, for them to know how to cope with their loneliness in the short term.