Youth loneliness in pandemic times: a qualitative study in Quebec and Ontario

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn many countries, young adults have been the age group most affected by loneliness during the pandemic. While this phenomenon is now well quantified, we still lack a clear understanding of its causes, as well as of the main characteristics of this youth loneliness. We argue that a qualitative approach can help to capture the dynamics of youth loneliness during the pandemic: drawing on 48 life stories of young adults aged 18 to 30 conducted in 2020 and 2021 in Québec and Ontario, we identify the different hardships, emotions and coping strategies associated with loneliness. We show that beyond a common « shock of loneliness », this experience is associated with three main narratives -loneliness as an « abyss », a « battle » or a « resource »-, which sheds light on a process of « cumulative loneliness », affecting particularly the most vulnerable young people. The conclusion highlights some key lessons for research on youth loneliness.

Keywords

• loneliness
• youth loneliness
• young adults
• loneliness experiences
• pandemic
• social isolation