Loneliness of adolescents associated with increased symptoms and medicine use

BACKGROUND: Loneliness is a major risk for adolescents’ health and well-being. This study analysed the prevalence of loneliness among Finnish youth and the associations between loneliness, psychosomatic symptoms, and medicine use.

METHODS: Data were collected in 2018 as part of the international Health Behaviour of School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Participants were 1798 7th and 9th grade students. Statistical analyses were carried out by χ2-test and 95% confidence interval testing.

RESULTS: The prevalence of loneliness increased as children became adolescents and approximately one sixth of 15-year-olds experienced loneliness quite often or very often. Lonely adolescents more frequently displayed psychosomatic symptoms and, in particular, a higher prevalence of nervousness and difficulties in getting to sleep. Lonely adolescents were also shown to use medicine for nervousness and difficulties in getting to sleep three times more often than non-lonely adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that a focus should be placed on adolescent loneliness in both home and school environments. There are ways to prevent and reduce loneliness. Prior to taking action to reduce adolescent loneliness, its effects on health and well-being among adolescents should be identified.