LONELINESS AND FEATURES OF ITS EXPERIENCE IN YOUTH AGE

Abstract

This article is dedicated to identifying the features of experiencing loneliness in adolescence. The basic approaches to the study of loneliness are described, its classification is given; several interpretations of the term "loneliness" are given, as well as an extended definition; the analysis of the prerequisites of loneliness in connection with the development of society, as well as the individual-personal features of the experience of loneliness are revealed. The characteristics of the most important components of loneliness are offered in the work, the peculiarities of different types of loneliness are highlighted, the main causes and peculiarities of loneliness are analyzed, and the influence of loneliness on life and health is described.

The article describes an empirical study of respondents' loneliness experiences; the influence of the level of subjective experience of loneliness on changes in the social needs of youth, in their attitude to others, to their own «I» and to life in general is investigated. Gender differences in the experience of loneliness are described. These differences are related to satisfaction with the meaning of life. According to the results of the survey, respondents were found to have a general medium and high level of loneliness. The relationship between the subjective sense of loneliness and self-esteem, as well as between indicators of communicative qualities and indicators of loneliness were also found: the lower the self-esteem, the higher the level of experiencing loneliness. It is noted that the reasons for the loneliness of students are problems with self-esteem, difficulty in communication, self-doubt, lack of friends.