Dimensions of teenagers’ experiences of loneliness during COVID-19 induced social lockdown: A study in India

Abstract

Introduction: Indian teenagers, in the age group of 10-19years, constitute around 22% of the total population in the country. It is a turbulent period in the life cycle of humanbeing and is not unusual to feel lonely occasionally. TheCOVID-19 lock down compelled the teenagers to facerestricted access to socialization, play affecting even theircrucial physical development as well as psychological wellbeing. Along with the emergence of pandemic followed bythe strict locked down, many teenagers endured with mentalhealth challenges like tension, anxiety and sadness which is amatter of concern.Method: The qualitative study, conducted during lockdownamong teenagers dwelling in the urban, peri-urban and rural settings, aimed at understanding the nature of lonelinessteenage children encountered during COVID-19 inducedlockdown situation in India.Results: The results of the study showed that loneliness as amultifactorial experience focused on two key constructs: i)pleasant relation, and ii) sense of aloneness.