The life of young adults often involves fundamental changes: training or studying, separations, new relationships, starting a family, the first permanent job or a job change. According to a study that analyzed data from almost 4,800 adults in the USA, these changes are often accompanied by feelings of loneliness and disconnection as well as a fundamental insecurity.
The bottom line is that the younger participants did not turn out to be lonelier than people of older age. Middle-aged respondents between 40 and 60 were the most likely to report feeling lonely.
Overall, those who described their lives as predictable and were able to access routines in their everyday lives fared best socially. If the participants of business as usual reported that they were much happier and were able to maintain their friendships well. A stable life without major or rapid breaks and transitions seems to be a good prerequisite for feeling good.
source
Hall, J. A. et al. (2025). Lonely and connected in emerging adulthood: The ambivalence of sociality in a time of transitions. Plos One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0334787
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