What is meant by loneliness?

When loneliness is characterised by too few or no social relationships that offer a sense of belonging, we talk about social loneliness. If you have many relationships, but feel that they’re not as deep or close as you would like, so your emotional needs for support, confirmation, and being seen are not met, this is called emotional loneliness. Another form of loneliness is called existential loneliness, where you may have people around you but feel that no one really understands you, shares your view of the world, or enables a meaningful exchange.  

In summary, the most important factor for loneliness seems to be the quality and strength of relationships, more than the number of them, although both can affect our experience of loneliness.  

Before moving on to the next section, take a moment to consider and answer the following questions:  

• How are things for you today, when it comes to loneliness? 

• Are you part of any social networks, for example with course or work colleagues you meet and talk with around your studies and/or work?  

• Do you have friends, a partner or family that you meet regularly in your free time? This can include online relationships. 

• What do you think contributes most to your experience of loneliness? 

• Is there anything else in your current situation that you think affects how lonely you feel?  

In the next sections, you’ll have the opportunity to think about what contributes to your loneliness, map how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours are affected by loneliness, and reflect on both how you would like things to be and what you can do to increase the chances of meaningful relationships with others.