Perceived causes of loneliness in adulthood

Loneliness is a pervasive experience, which every person has experienced. It is a subjective experience, which is influenced by one's personality and situational variables. The present study examined the influence of age and gender on the perceived causes of loneliness. Seven hundred and eleven participants from all walks of life volunteered to answer an 82-item yes/no questionnaire, reflecting on their loneliness experiences and causes. Four age groups were compared: youth (13-18 years old), young adults( 19-30 years old), adults (31-58 years old) and seniors (60-80 years old). Within and between gender comparisons were done. Results indicated that the causes of loneliness are perceived differently depending on one's age and gender. Young adults had the highest mean scores on all subscales, while seniors scored the lowest. A gender main effect was also found with women scoring higher in loneliness.