Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and Ontario
ABSTRACTIn many countries, young adults have been the age group most affected by loneliness during the pandemic. While this phenomenon is now well quantified, we still lack a clear understanding of its causes, as well as of the main characteristics of this youth loneliness. We argue that a qualitati...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2223671 |
| _version_ | 1827580673762787328 |
|---|---|
| author | Cécile Van de Velde Stéphanie Boudreault Laureleï Berniard |
| author_facet | Cécile Van de Velde Stéphanie Boudreault Laureleï Berniard |
| author_sort | Cécile Van de Velde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTIn many countries, young adults have been the age group most affected by loneliness during the pandemic. While this phenomenon is now well quantified, we still lack a clear understanding of its causes, as well as of the main characteristics of this youth loneliness. We argue that a qualitative approach can help to capture the dynamics of youth loneliness during the pandemic: drawing on 48 life stories of young adults aged 18 to 30 conducted in 2020 and 2021 in Québec and Ontario, we identify the different hardships, emotions and coping strategies associated with loneliness. We show that beyond a common « shock of loneliness », this experience is associated with three main narratives -loneliness as an « abyss », a « battle » or a « resource »-, which sheds light on a process of « cumulative loneliness », affecting particularly the most vulnerable young people. The conclusion highlights some key lessons for research on youth loneliness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:23:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8fd8ee74e3914a3b9e82a2c1bc875c67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:23:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| spelling | doaj.art-8fd8ee74e3914a3b9e82a2c1bc875c672023-12-18T12:05:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272023-12-0128110.1080/02673843.2023.2223671Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and OntarioCécile Van de Velde0Stéphanie Boudreault1Laureleï Berniard2Department of Sociology, University of Montreal, Québec, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Montreal, Québec, CanadaDepartment of Sociology, University of Montreal, Québec, CanadaABSTRACTIn many countries, young adults have been the age group most affected by loneliness during the pandemic. While this phenomenon is now well quantified, we still lack a clear understanding of its causes, as well as of the main characteristics of this youth loneliness. We argue that a qualitative approach can help to capture the dynamics of youth loneliness during the pandemic: drawing on 48 life stories of young adults aged 18 to 30 conducted in 2020 and 2021 in Québec and Ontario, we identify the different hardships, emotions and coping strategies associated with loneliness. We show that beyond a common « shock of loneliness », this experience is associated with three main narratives -loneliness as an « abyss », a « battle » or a « resource »-, which sheds light on a process of « cumulative loneliness », affecting particularly the most vulnerable young people. The conclusion highlights some key lessons for research on youth loneliness.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2223671lonelinessyouth lonelinessyoung adultsloneliness experiencespandemicsocial isolation |
| spellingShingle | Cécile Van de Velde Stéphanie Boudreault Laureleï Berniard Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and Ontario International Journal of Adolescence and Youth loneliness youth loneliness young adults loneliness experiences pandemic social isolation |
| title | Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_full | Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_fullStr | Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_full_unstemmed | Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_short | Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_sort | youth loneliness in pandemic times a qualitative study in quebec and ontario |
| topic | loneliness youth loneliness young adults loneliness experiences pandemic social isolation |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2223671 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cecilevandevelde youthlonelinessinpandemictimesaqualitativestudyinquebecandontario AT stephanieboudreault youthlonelinessinpandemictimesaqualitativestudyinquebecandontario AT laureleiberniard youthlonelinessinpandemictimesaqualitativestudyinquebecandontario |