loneliness

“Given the increasing population of elderly individuals and the various psychological challenges they face, such as feelings of loneliness and anxiety stemming from rejection, there is a growing necessity to focus on effective intervention methods. Mindfulness, as a psychological technique, can help individuals engage with their emotions and thoughts in a more constructive manner. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness on loneliness, sensitivity to rejection, and rumination in the elderl

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness on loneliness, sensitivity to rejection, and rumination in the elderly. The research method was semi-experimental, utilizing a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population included all elderly individuals residing in government-run nursing homes. Using a convenience sampling method, 50 individuals were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (15 participants) and a control group (15 participants). Data were collected using the Ruminative Response Scale by Nolen-Hoeksema (1991), the Russell Loneliness Scale (1980), and the Downey and Feldman Sensitivity to Rejection Scale (1996). The mindfulness program was implemented for the experimental group over eight 90-minute sessions, once a week. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance with SPSS version 26.

The results indicated that mindfulness training significantly affected loneliness, sensitivity to rejection, and rumination in the elderly, and this effect remained significant during the follow-up period (P < 0.001).

Therefore, based on the findings, it can be concluded that these results emphasize the importance of utilizing mindfulness techniques to enhance the mental health of the elderly and can serve as a foundation for designing effective intervention programs for this age group.

Psychotherapy plays an important role in increasing psychological capital, reducing loneliness and extreme addictions such as the Internet among teenagers. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of "Group Schema Therapy" on the psychological capital and loneliness of secondary school male students with Internet addiction.

The current research method is semi-experimental and pre-test and post-test with a follow-up stage. The statistical population of this research was all male students of the second secondary level with Internet addiction in Borujerd city in the academic year of 2023-2024. Among them, 24 people were selected by non-random and accessible sampling method, and were placed in 2 intervention groups (12 people) and control (12 people) in a simple random way by lottery method. The instruments used in this research included demographic questionnaire, "Internet Addiction Test", "Psychological Capital Questionnaires" and "Loneliness Scale". The content validity of the instruments was calculated using the qualitative method and the reliability was calculated using the internal consistency method by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the instruments The intervention group underwent "Group Schema Therapy" during 10 sessions. The data was analyzed in SPSS .22.This research is semi-experimental and pre-test and post-test with a follow-up phase. The statistical population of this research was all male students of the second secondary level with Internet addiction in Borujerd city in the academic year of 2023-2024. Among them, 24 people were selected by the convenience non-random sampling method and were placed in two interventions (12 people) and control (12 people) groups in a simple random way through lottery. The instruments used in this research included, demographic questionnaires, "Internet Addiction Test", "Psychological Capital Questionnaires" and "Loneliness Scale".  The content validity of the instruments was calculated by qualitative method and reliability by internal consistency method through Cronbach's alpha. The intervention group was subjected to "Group Schema Therapy" intervention during 10 sessions and the data was analyzed through SPSS. 22.

The results of variance analysis indicated that "Group Schema Therapy" increases psychological capital (P=0.009) with an effect size of 0.910 and decreases the feeling of loneliness (P=0.028) with an effect size of 0.760 (P<0/05).

"Group Schema Therapy" was effective in increasing psychological capital and reducing loneliness. It is suggested to use "Group Schema Therapy" as a comprehensive and effective therapy in order to increase psychological capital and reduce the loneliness and then reduce dependence on the Internet among students.

 Individuals undergoing chronic hemodialysis face various daily challenges due to their unique lifestyle, which significantly reduces their quality of life. Self-care plays a crucial role in improving health behaviors and delaying the progression to the final stages of the disease. Since self-care is comprehensive, learnable, and improvable, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between loneliness and self- care in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis.

This cross-sectional study involved 138 elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis at the Citizen Dialysis Center in Sari, selected through a census method. Data collection tools included a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Standardized Elderly Self-Care Scale, and the Russell Loneliness Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, employing both descriptive and inferential statistics. The significance level was set at P≤ 0.05.

The average age of the participants was 68.67±6.28 years, and the majority (51.4%) were female. Pearson correlation analysis revealed no significant association between total self-care scores and loneliness (r=0.14,P=0.108), physical self-care scores and loneliness (r=-0.03,p=0.694), or illness-related self-care scores and loneliness (r=0.11,P=0.218). However, a significant negative correlation was observed between spiritual self-care scores and loneliness (r=-0.33,P=0.001) and between social self-care scores and loneliness (r=-0.20,P=0.018). As loneliness scores increased, spiritual and social self-care scores declined.

The findings underscore the importance of addressing the emotional and social needs of elderly hemodialysis patients along with their physical health needs to enhance their overall quality of life. Healthcare providers and policymakers should implement self-care interventions, particularly those emphasizing spiritual and social aspects, into care plans for elderly hemodialysis patients to reduce the negative impact of loneliness and promote their well-being.

Although loneliness can occur in any life stage, its is higher among older adults. The present study aimed to explore the experience of loneliness in single older women in Tehran, Iran.

This qualitative study was conducted from 2020 to 2021. Sampling was performed
using the snowball method. The participants were 23 older women aged 60-70 years remained permanently single unmarried, and had lived alone for at least one year, in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured individual interviews and the collected data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis. 

The mean age of women was 62.1 years. After coding and analyzing the data, three main themes were extracted as the participants' experiences of loneliness: Coping with loneliness (with two categories of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies), consequences of living alone (with two categories of perceived benefits and perceived disadvantages) and mediators of coping with loneliness (with three categories of social factors, physiological factors, and socio-economic factors) were recognized.

The experiences of older women remained unmarried and are living alone, explored in this study, can significantly clarify their needs. Necessary planning is required to address their needs and challenges.

Mental health is crucial for enhancing the quality of life in older adults.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and loneliness, considering the moderating role of religious orientation among the elderly in Karaj city.
Method and Materials: This descriptive cross-sectional study of 500 older adults in Karaj, Iran, was conducted in 2020 using cluster sampling. Data was gathered through a demographic checklist, questionnaires on COVID-19 anxiety, Allport and Ross Religious Orientation, and loneliness. Path analysis was employed to assess the moderating role of religious orientation in the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and loneliness.

The mean age of the elderly participants in the study was 70.82 ± 7.99 years. Most were male (n=275, 55%) and married (n=388, 67.6%). Significant correlations were found between psychological anxiety and loneliness, as well as between religious orientation and loneliness (p=0.000, β=-0.584). However, the results did not support a moderating role of religious orientation in the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and loneliness (p=0.999, β=0.000).

The current study did not support the moderating role of religiosity in the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and loneliness; however, further research is recommended to verify these findings.

Internet addiction is associated with psychological characteristics such as perfectionism, social anxiety, and loneliness. The mediating role of procrastination in these relationships has been less explored. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the mediating role of procrastination in the relationship between perfectionism, social anxiety, and loneliness and internet addiction among students at Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, during the 2021-2022 academic year.

In the present descriptive correlational study, the community consisted of students. A number of 500 people were selected by convenience sampling method and responded to Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1988), Procrastination Scale (Tuckman, 1991), Perfectionism Scale (Hill et al., 2004), Social Phobia Scale (Connor et al., 2000), and Adult Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale-Short Version (de Tomaso et al., 2004). Data analysis was performed by structural equations modeling.

The results of the research showed that the variables of procrastination, perfectionism, social anxiety, and loneliness are directly and positively related to Internet addiction (p<0.001). Also, the results of structural equation modeling showed that procrastination plays a mediating role in the relationship between perfectionism, social anxiety, and loneliness, and Internet addiction (p<0.001).

The current study indicated that procrastination in individuals with high levels of perfectionism, social anxiety, and loneliness could lead to excessive internet dependency. Therefore, it is recommended that interventions be considered to reduce these factors.

 Problematic internet use is one of the emerging issues in modern societies, and psychological factors play a prominent role in its etiology. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between attention deficit, impulsivity, and emotional regulation deficits with problematic internet use due to the feeling of loneliness.

 The multi-stage cluster method was adopted to select 450 students from the middle schools in Tabriz in the 2022-2023 academic year. Subjects were assessed by the questionnaires of Achenbach's behavioral signs, Barth's impulsivity, Gratz's and Roemer's emotion regulation deficits, Russell's feeling of loneliness and the problematic Internet use by Lopez-Fernandez et al.

 The data analysis using structural equation modeling showed that the effects of attention deficit, impulsivity, and emotional regulation deficits on the problematic internet use were mediated by the feeling of loneliness. In addition, the findings revealed that attention deficit, impulsivity, emotion regulation deficit, and loneliness had a positive significant relationship with problematic internet use (P<0.05). The effects of attention deficit, impulsivity, and emotion regulation deficit on loneliness were also significant (P<0.05).

 In sum, the attention deficit, impulsivity, and emotional regulation deficits may have predicted the problematic internet use caused by feeling of loneliness.

The possibility of problems such as isolation and loneliness become common in the elderly entering old age. Loneliness, as one of the most important psychological problems in the elderly, can have significant negative consequences on their physical and mental health. Various factors can predict the feeling of loneliness of elderly people living in nursing homes. This study aimed to determine the role of coping strategies in predicting the feeling of loneliness in older adults living in nursing homes.

This was a descriptive-analytical study. 194 older people living in nursing homes in Shiraz city were included in the study in 1402 using the convenience sampling method. UCLA Loneliness Questionnaire, CISS Coping Strategies Questionnaire, and GDS Geriateric Depression Scale were used to collect information. Written consent was obtained from all old participants in this study. SPSS v. 23 software was used for data analysis..

he mean age of the elderly participants in the study was 67.76 ± 5.46 years. Most of the elderly, women (52%), had lost their spouses. More elderly people (70.2%) experienced low loneliness (score 21-39). This study showed that most of older adults (48%) use emotion-oriented strategies. The results showed that with the increase of each score of the problem-oriented scale and the avoidance-oriented subscale, the loneliness score increased by 0.23 and 0.387 units, respectively. With the increase of each score on the emotion-oriented scale, the loneliness score decreases by 0.390 units.

The level of loneliness in the elderly in this study was low. The problem-oriented and avoidance-oriented strategies were associated with increasing feelings of loneliness, and the emotion-oriented strategies were associated with decreasing feelings of loneliness. Planning effective interventions to reduce the feeling of loneliness in the elderly, such as teaching healthy coping strategies and promoting social support, can lead to reducing the feeling of loneliness in older adults.

Establishing meaningful communication based on trust and mutual support is one of the basic and natural human needs. Loneliness refers to a negative and unpleasant experience that is caused by a lack of quantitative or qualitative attention in the field of one's social relationships. In other words, loneliness is a mental conflict between the individual's reality and the desired level of social relations. Now, when people fail to create social connections, the quality of life is severely damaged and may lead to loneliness. On the other hand, considering that loneliness is a common phenomenon in adolescence and adulthood and usually affects university students and often leads to mental illness. Also, loneliness is a constant risk factor for physical and mental health, which makes the prevalence of loneliness in young adults alarming. For this purpose, the present study was conducted to compile a model of loneliness based on self–esteem and secular attachment with the mediation of self–compassion in students.

The current research was correlational–analytical using the path analysis method. The statistical population comprised all students of Shiraz University who were studying in the academic year 2022–2023. The participants were selected using the available sampling method. After removing inappropriate questionnaires, 274 people remained. The participants completed the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell et al., 1980), the Rosenberg Self–Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), the Secular Attachment Scale (Mehdiyar et al., 2018), and the Self–Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003). The ethical considerations of the research included the consent and willingness of the participants, the right to withdraw, keeping the information of the participants confidential, and informing the participants about the research process. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and AMOS version 22 software. The significance level of the tests in this research was considered 0.05.

The results of the path analysis showed that self–esteem (β =–0.268, p<0.001) and self–compassion (β=–0.356, p<0.001) had a negative and significant direct effect, and secular attachment (β=0.194, p=0.019) had a positive and significant direct effect on the loneliness. On the other hand, self–esteem (β=0.145, p=0.032) had a positive and significant direct effect, and secular attachment (β=–0.161, p=0.011) had a negative and significant direct effect on self–compassion. The indirect effect of self–esteem on loneliness was negatively significant (β=–0.033, p=0.014). Also, the indirect effect of secular attachment on loneliness was positive and significant (β=0.029, p=0.021). Also, the fit index was at a suitable level (χ2/df=2.707, GFI=0.911, IFI=0.910, PCLOSE=0.094, RMSEA=0.071).

Based on the findings of this research, reducing secular attachment and increasing self–esteem leads to increased self–compassion. As a result, it plays a significant role in reducing students' loneliness.

With age, people gradually lose their past physiological, psychological and social functions, and this causes them to feel lonely. On the other hand, self-efficacy determines how much time people spend on their activities and how flexible they are in dealing with various situations. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between the feeling of loneliness and its dimensions with the self-efficacy of the elderly.

This is a descriptive, analytical, correlational study in which 335 elderly individuals covered by comprehensive health centers of Gorgan city were included in the study in 2022. Sampling was done using a stratified method with proportional allocation. Data was gathered through a demographic checklist, and Social-Emotional Loneliness Questionnaire for Adults (SELSA-S), and Sherer's General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. The questionnaires were scored through a Likert scale. Previous studies confirmed the validity and reliability of the questionnaires. The data was analyzed by SPSS version 21 software. Spearman correlation, Umann Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed for data analysis. The significance level for all statistical tests was set at p < 0.05.

The study sample consisted of 71% (n=238) female older adults. The average loneliness score among the participants was 34.89 ± 9.39, while the average self-efficacy score was 58.08 ± 8.98. Loneliness exhibited a significant negative correlation with self-efficacy in older adults, (r=-0.203, p<0.001). Self-efficacy also demonstrated a significant negative correlation with dimensions of romantic loneliness, family loneliness, and social loneliness (p<0.001).
 

These results provide valuable insights into the association between self-efficacy and loneliness among older adults and can serve as a foundation for mental and social health interventions and programs targeting this population.

Considering the tendency of the new generation, especially students, to use virtual spaces, it seems that the internet can be considered as a medium of influence in academic and personal life. The aim of the study was to predict body dysmorphic based on internet addiction and loneliness in medical students.

The type of present study was descriptive-correlation. 190 medical students from west of Mazandaran were included in the study by stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using Kimberly Young's Internet Addiction Questionnaire, Rabiei et al.'s body dysmorphic Questionnaire, and Russell's Loneliness Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test and stepwise regression were used for analysis.

The results showed that there was a significant relationship between internet addiction and feeling lonely with body dysmorphic in West Mazandaran medical students (P<0.01). The results of the regression analysis showed that in the first step, the feeling of loneliness variable alone predicts 44% of the variance of the body dysmorphic variable (P<0.01). In the second step of this analysis, the variable of internet addiction was added as another variable after the variable of loneliness into the prediction equation of students' body dysmorphic, and with the addition of this variable, the predictive power increased to 50% (P<0.01).

the variables of internet addiction and feeling of loneliness are predictors of body dysmorphic in medical students, in such a way that body dysmorphic disorder increases with more feeling of loneliness and higher dependence on the internet.

Information related to the amount of the most significant risk factors identified in relation to depression in middle-aged Iranian individuals is insufficient. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to predict depression in middle-aged residents of Tehran based on their socioeconomic status, feelings of loneliness, spiritual well-being, and marital satisfaction.

This cross-sectional study employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational approach and regression analysis. A total of 216 middle-aged individuals visiting health centers in Tehran in 2023 were selected through convenience sampling. Participants completed questionnaires assessing marital satisfaction (Hudson), social-emotional loneliness in adults, spiritual well-being (Dehshiri et al.), socioeconomic status (SES), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24 to examine the relationship between predictor variables and depression.

Rusults:

 Among the 216 middle-aged participants in Tehran, aged between 40 and 60 years, 47/68% were male (103 individuals) and 52/31% were female (113 individuals). The prevalence of depression among middle-aged individuals in Tehran was found to be 46/3% (100 individuals). Notably, only spiritual well-being significantly predicted the variability in depression among middle-aged individuals in Tehran (B=0/19, p< 0/01).

Contrary to previous studies, socioeconomic status, loneliness, and marital satisfaction did not statistically predict the variability in depression among middle-aged individuals in Tehran. It is recommended that further research be conducted to identify the most significant risk factors associated with depression in this demographic.

The aim purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of treatment on acceptance and acceptance on forgiveness, mood deficiency and loneliness in betrayed women.

The research method was a quasi-experimental using pre-test, post-test and experimental and control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all women affected by infidelity who referred to counseling centers in Qom (Fardai Roshan and Shamim Counseling Center). The sampling method was voluntarily and with random replacement; In this way, 30 women were selected among the women affected by infidelity who referred to the mentioned centers, and then randomly and based on the list of names, they were randomly assigned to two experimental and control group. Loneliness Questionnaire (Russell, 1996), the Toronto Alexithymia Questionnaire (Taylor, 1986) and the Forgiveness Questionnaire (Pollard et al., 1998) were used.

The data were analyzed by multivariate covariance test and mixed analysis of variance with repeated measurement design and the squared value of eta indicates the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on the variables of forgiveness, alexithymia and lonely feeling.

As a result, the findings of this research confirmed the role and efficacy of education based on acceptance and commitment in reducing unforgiveness and emotional inadequacy and feelings of loneliness of betrayed spouses.

Academic failure, as one of the key challenges universities face, has numerous causes. To mitigate it, the impact of these factors must be acknowledged.

This study aims to propose a predictive model for students’ academic achievement, focusing on variables such as addiction to virtual etworks, procrastination in work, feelings of loneliness, and academic stress.

This research is applied and correlational. The statistical population comprised all students from a chosen military university in Tehran in 2023. By employing convenience sampling and G*power software, 386 individuals participated in the study. Data collection involved utilizing questionnaires on internet addiction, loneliness, work procrastination, and student stress, while academic performance was determined using students’ averages. The study variables’ relationships were explored through a suggested conceptual model. Amos24 software was utilized for examining the causal links among research variables using structural equation modeling (SEM).

After modifying the initial measurement model, Composite Reliability index (CR) were obtained greater than the cut-off point of 0.7, and the overall reliability of the model was confirmed. The average variance extracted (AVE) being greater than the cut point of 0.5 and CR being greater than AVE confirmed the convergent validity of the constructs. Divergent validity was also confirmed by the AVE value being higher than the values of the maximum shared squared variance (MSV) and average shared squared variance (ASV). The normed chi-square (CMIN/D˂3), comparative fit index (CFI>0.9), root mean square residual (SRMR˂0.08) and root mean square error of approximate (RMSEA˂0.08) confirmed the fit of the modified model.

Virtual network addiction and procrastination, as independent variables, along with loneliness as a mediating variable, significantly influence academic performance. The findings suggest that the model fits well, with the variables successfully predicting students’ academic performance at an above-average level Keywords: Academic performance, Addiction