Research Team: Fabiola R., Aida V., Alexa B., Eliana A., Jhosteen L.
Critical Insights for Activists
Quality Over Quantity:: For young adults, social media "broadcasting" (uploading) is associated with higher loneliness, while active direct interaction is associated with lower loneliness.
The "Crowded Room" Paradox:: Adolescents describe loneliness not as being physically alone, but as feeling "disconnected" and "unseen" even in a crowded school setting.
Physical Health Links:: In older populations, higher levels of loneliness significantly correlate with higher incidences of chronic diseases like asthma and osteoarthritis.
Intersection with Justice:: US veterans with incarcerated family members report a significantly higher risk of feeling isolated compared to the general veteran population.
Youth Crisis:: Among youth already diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, every incremental increase in loneliness corresponds to a worsening of depression and anxiety symptoms.
Urgent Research Gaps
First-Generation Latina Experience:: There is a significant gap in research regarding First-Generation Latina women in college, who face "cultural mismatch" and institutional isolation.
The Role of AI:: Research is needed to determine if reliance on Artificial Intelligence for connection reduces or simply masks systemic loneliness.
Academic References (APA)
Bound Alberti, F. (2018). This "modern epidemic": Loneliness as an emotion cluster and a neglected subject in the history of emotions. *Emotion Review*, 10(3), 242-254.
Meng, L., et al. (2024). The silent epidemic: exploring the link between loneliness and chronic diseases in China's elderly. *BMC geriatrics*, 24(1), 710.
Sabo, K., et al. (2025). Alone in a Crowded Room: The Lived Experience of Loneliness Among Teens. *Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services*, 63(6), 32-38.