The double-sided coin of loneliness and social media – young adults’ experiences and perceptions

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Youth is associated with various emotions and experiences that can negatively affect young adults’ health and well-being, loneliness being one of them. Experiences of loneliness can have a negative impact on young adults’ psychological well-being and quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate young adults’ experiences and perceptions of loneliness and its association with social media.

Methods

Guided by a semi-structured interview guide, data material was collected in the form of essays with nine young adults aged 19-27. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results

Three main categories and eight subthemes emerged. The main categories were: Negative experiences of involuntary loneliness, Positive experiences of voluntary loneliness, and Social media is a double-sided coin vis-à-vis loneliness.

Discussion

Impacted by various complex individual aspects, loneliness for young adults can be both positive and negative, and social media’s association with loneliness can be considered double-sided.

KEYWORDS:

• Loneliness
• social media
• young adults

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the participants in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors state that there are no sources of conflict.

Author contributions

Emelie Käcko was responsible for the study conception and design, data analysis and discussion and drafted the manuscript at all stages. Emelie Käcko and Jessica Hemberg were responsible for the data collection. Jessica Hemberg and Pia Nyman-Kurkiala contributed to the study conception. All authors contributed to the data analysis and provided critical comments on the manuscript.

Emelie Käcko contributed to the study conception, design, data collection, data analysis, discussion and drafted the manuscript. Jessica Hemberg contributed to the study conception, design, data collection, data analysis, discussion and provided critical reflections. Pia Nyman-Kurkiala contributed to the design, discussion and provided critical reflections.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval for the study was granted by an ethical committee at the university where the researchers were situated. The ethical guidelines outlined by the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (2023) were followed throughout the study. Participants provided informed consent for participation in the study. The participants were informed both orally and in writing about the purpose of the study, confidentiality, withdrawal of consent and publication intent.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Högskolestiftelsen i Österbotten, Svensk-Österbottniska samfundet, Stiftelsen Brita Maria Renlunds Minne sr and Aktiastiftelsen i Vasa.