Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Centre for Identity and Intergroup Relations, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
BMC Psychol. 2023 Nov 21;11(1):408. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01452-4.
Existential loneliness is a feeling which stems from a sense of fundamental separation from others and the world. Although commonly mentioned in the loneliness literature, there is relatively little empirical work on this construct, and existing work tends to focus on older and seriously ill individuals. The present study aimed to understand how people experience existential loneliness without specific constraints on precipitating factors like illness or age.
A qualitative online survey collected data from 225 adults aged 16 to 72 years old. Participants were asked to write about their experiences of existential loneliness and how these experiences compared to non-existential loneliness. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Of 225 participants, 51% knew the meaning of "existential loneliness" upon accessing the survey and in total, 83% had experienced existential loneliness. 93% of these participants had also experienced loneliness that was not existential in nature. 175 participants provided qualitative data regarding their experiences of existential loneliness, from which four themes were identified: Existential loneliness is (1) A deeper form of loneliness, and (2) A feeling of deep disconnection, in which (3) Cognitive evaluations and negative emotions are central elements, and (4) Stress and mental health issues are perceived as relevant factors.
Existential loneliness is a deeply rooted and impactful form of loneliness which involves feelings of profound separateness. This aspect of loneliness is deserving of further attention. Future research directions are suggested.
存在性孤独是一种源自与他人和世界根本分离的感觉。尽管在孤独文献中经常被提及，但对于这种结构的实证研究相对较少，而且现有研究往往侧重于年老和重病患者。本研究旨在了解在没有特定于疾病或年龄等促成因素的情况下，人们是如何体验存在性孤独的。
一项定性在线调查从 16 至 72 岁的 225 名成年人那里收集了数据。参与者被要求写下他们存在性孤独的经历，以及这些经历与非存在性孤独的经历相比如何。使用反思性主题分析对数据进行分析。
在 225 名参与者中，51%的人在访问调查时知道“存在性孤独”的含义，总共有 83%的人经历过存在性孤独。其中 93%的人也经历过非存在性的孤独。175 名参与者提供了关于他们存在性孤独经历的定性数据，从中确定了四个主题：存在性孤独是（1）一种更深层次的孤独形式，（2）一种深感脱节的感觉，其中（3）认知评估和负面情绪是核心要素，（4）压力和心理健康问题被认为是相关因素。
存在性孤独是一种根深蒂固且影响深远的孤独形式，涉及到深刻的分离感。这种孤独的方面值得进一步关注。提出了未来的研究方向。
