Loneliness and the life cycle

Loneliness is a prevailing experience which every person has experienced. T his subjective experience is influenced by one's personality and situationa l variables. In the present study, the influence of age and sex on the expe rience of loneliness were examined. 711 participants volunteered to answer an 82-item yes/no questionnaire on their loneliness experience and its mean ing. Four age groups were compared: 106 youths (13-18 years old), 255 young adults (19-30 years old), 314 adults (31-58 years old), and 36 seniors (60 -80 years old). Within and between sex comparisons indicated that lonelines s is indeed affected by one's age and sex.