LONELINESS IN INDIAN YOUTH

.

According to The World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10% of adolescents are lonely. Additionally, a 2021 global survey by Ipsos revealed that 4 in 10 urban Indians (43%) said they felt lonely and friendless at most times, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Introduction:

Loneliness does not stop only with the older adults, assuming that it’s a widespread mental health problem. Whereas earlier, it was considered an old age problem, there it is the younger generation of people including Indian youth who are more and more affected by it. This blog would focus on the intricacies of loneliness among the young Indian population, highlight factors leading to loneliness and develop solutions for the barriers.

Defining Loneliness:

The cognition of loneliness contains a wide range of emotions beyond the single feeling of being alone, which has to do with the perception of a wall between oneself and others. Opposite to this is the fact even though the person’s social space is full, those who experience loneliness are aware that the people around them are not as fulfilling as they expected..

Loneliness around the World:

There is no boundary for the loneliness existence; it brings people together beyond location. Governments and scientists across the world are involved in such a research and see its consequences. It is quite interesting however, that young adults and adolescents are having difficulty in handling loneliness. Although, in old days, this feeling is one of the things that older people can’t get rid of only.

Loneliness in India:

In India, where once people used to be attached with words ‘family’ and ‘community’, now they are facing loneliness issues. This is most likely to be observed in the young population. We have a myth, however it is limited to anecdotal evidence and what we see in media. This is not good. Factors contributing to loneliness in Indian youth include:Factors contributing to loneliness in Indian youth include:

1. Migration and Related Issues:

– There is a tendency for youths to embark on an educational tour or job search that, eventually, undermines the social structures they are used to and leaves them emotionally disconnected from their family.

2. Urge for Self-Improvement:

Peer competition is an endeavor to be in the top tier hence, is a curse or boon, because it mostly promotes self-improvement instead of helping other learners socially.

3. Professional and Personal Failures:

A sense of being unworthy and unaccomplished also originates from the high standards set and the pressure from society. This contributes to the professional and personal failures, which in turn results in feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

4. Body Shaming and Bullying:

– Another major contributing factor to the lack of self-worth among teenagers is the negative society that promotes physical beauty. The result of this is diminished self-esteem and social withdrawal among teenagers.

5. Personality Types:

Certain individual features connected with higher degrees of neuroticism belong to the risk factors that are making the issue of loneliness more complex.

6. Internet/Mobile Phone/Social Media Addiction:

An over-dependence on technology may cause social isolation and other cognitive dislocations, where perception becomes confusing and monotonous, and which may eventually lead to loneliness.

7. Personalized Entertainment:

– Shifts towards personalized entertainment and online socialization reduce face-to-face interactions, contributing to feelings of loneliness.

8. Extended Working Hours:

– Modern city life especially in a corporate world results in attending the workplaces for longer hours than normal, with friends and strangers becoming the intended persons to socialize all the time and no time for leisure activities.

Also Read :- TOP 46 INTRESTING FACTS 

Solutions to Combat Loneliness:

Addressing Loneliness: Strategies for Action:

1. Promoting Mental Health Awareness:

– Educating public on mental health and eliminating myths about problems which can be fixed by visiting a doctor is fundamental in this matter.

2. Nurturing Social Bonds: Building Stronger Connections

Creating opportunities for involvement in community wide activities and bolstering social support systems would make an excellent beginning point to getting rid of loneliness

3. Supporting Vulnerable Groups:

Integrated approach that covering at-risk groups all the way from migrants to persons with low self-esteem must be embraced.

4. Addressing Technology Addiction:

Properly inform the public in using healthy technology and the rightful multi-dimensional social interactions can reduce the loneliness brought about by technology over-usage.

Also Read :- DINK LIFE

Conclusion:

The loneliness (depression/isolation problem) among Indian youth is receiving special attention for development. Given that loneliness can be caused by multiple factors, implementing methods that specifically help with the problem is the way forward to having a community that is cohesive and supportive where every person feel that they are seen, appreciated and understood.