Self-Esteem and the Sense of Loneliness in Young Adults

Abstract

Introduction: The rapidly-growing sense of loneliness should be regarded as one of the key challenges of the modern world, which we cannot approach with negligence. How young people cope with loneliness, and how they experience and perceive it, strongly depends on their subjective perception of themselves, their self-esteem and self-concept.

Research Aim: This paper presents the author’s own study which was aimed at analysing the relationship between self-esteem and the sense of loneliness among young adults. The study involved 314 people aged between 18 and 33.

Method: The diagnostic survey method was used along with the following research tools: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and the Revised R-Scale ‒ UCLA.

Results: The average global self-esteem score was M = 27.7, out of 40 points possible, with the minimum score of 10 points. The results of the study reveal that nearly 50% of the respondents are characterised by very low or low self-esteem (154 respondents). More than 20% of the respondents (69 people) represent an average level of self-esteem, while high and very high levels of self-esteem are reported by nearly 30% of the respondents (91 people). The average overall score for the analyses of the sense of loneliness among young adults was M = 41, out of 80 points possible, with the minimum score of 20 points. As regards individual aspects of the sense of loneliness, the scores ranked low or average. The analyses performed in the study reveal that there is a negative correlation between the variables analysed, meaning that higher levels of self-esteem are accompanied by a lower sense of loneliness among young adults.

Conclusion: The results of this study provide an important premise for undertaking preventive and therapeutic interventions aimed at young adults, to prevent and reduce their levels of perceived loneliness.