A NEW cross-sectional study highlights a troubling mental health trend among adolescents and young adults, revealing that up to two-thirds of students aged 14–30 report moderate to severe loneliness. The findings identify social media use, self-esteem, and perceived health status as key contributors to this rising public health concern.
Researchers surveyed 536 high school and university students in Zaragoza, Spain, using validated measures such as the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. The results show that 31.2% of respondents met criteria for loneliness using the UCLA scale, while 49.1% reported moderate loneliness and 27.1% severe loneliness according to the De Jong Gierveld scale. Notably, the data did not show significant differences by age or gender.
The study found strong associations between loneliness and various psychological and social factors. Participants who spent more time on social media and had fewer or lower-quality relationships reported higher loneliness scores. Lower self-esteem and poorer self-perceived physical and mental health were also predictive of loneliness, as were self-reported mental health issues.
Although loneliness is a normal emotion, when persistent it becomes a serious risk factor for mental illness, chronic disease, and suicidal ideation. The researchers emphasize that youth loneliness remains underrecognized in public health efforts, despite clear evidence of its prevalence and negative health outcomes.
Given the developmental stage of this population and their vulnerability to social and emotional disruption, the study urges healthcare providers, particularly in primary care0, and educators to incorporate targeted screening and prevention programs. The authors recommend further research to establish effective, youth-specific interventions.
As loneliness increasingly affects young populations across the globe, this research provides valuable insight into potential psychosocial interventions and reinforces the need for mental health support systems tailored to students.
Reference:
Hernández-Díaz R et al. Analysis of young students’ perception of loneliness: a cross-sectional study. Front Psychol. 2025;16:1553490.
