Loneliness: An Ever Growing Public Health

Loneliness is an ever growing public health concern. Its negative effects on self-efficacy, self-esteem, and overall self-worth affects not only individual’s perception of self, but their role in society and their quality of life. Previous research suggests that loneliness depiction is inversely related to social desirability, such that individuals depicted as lonely are viewed as flawed or inadequate. One previous study administered the UCLA Loneliness Scale to 275 undergraduates and asked participants to judge individuals representative of lonely and non-lonely individuals. Researchers discovered that the results were indicative of the social stigma of loneliness and that lonely individuals were less accepted and viewed to have lower psychosocial …show more content…
The four conditions consisted of either a lonely 12-year-old, a non-lonely 12-year-old, a lonely 45-year-old, or a non-lonely 45-year-old. Using the Balanced Latin Square, each participant was randomly assigned into one of four groups to ensure presentation, sequence, and specific item effects were controlled. Each of the four conditions were designed to be equal and controlled for in every aspect other than degree of loneliness and the age of the described individual. The age of target individuals was manipulated using a description stating their age as either 12 years old (young) or 45 years old (old); loneliness description was manipulated into two levels: a high degree of loneliness (lonely) and a low degree of loneliness (non-lonely). Each participant received their assigned questionnaire simultaneously and participants were given 15 minutes to complete and submit their ratings. Researchers told subjects that they were participating in an impressions study and asked them to form an impression, likelihood of friendship and their degree of like-ability, based on a brief description. Verbal and written instructions were given, participants were instructed to read each description and answer the two following questions: “How much do you think you would like this person?” (1 = very unlikely, 5 = very likely) and “Would you want this person to be your …show more content…
They envy and admire others in their class who seem to have no difficulty finding friends. The student feels isolated with no one to talk to or share their ups and downs with. They haven’t gone to any birthday parties or school dances. The individual watches TV, goes to class, and attends a movie occasionally, but they pretty much keep to themselves. The second condition of a non-lonely 12-year-old was described