Loneliness in South African youth and its association with HIV infection, substance use and mental health
Youth are susceptible to experiencing loneliness, which is associated with poor mental health and substance use. However, there are limited data from low-middle-income settings especially in youth living with HIV. This study investigated loneliness in South African youth and association with perinat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2495877 |
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| author | Gabriella N. Stein Nicole Phillips Mothabisi N. Nyathi Jacqueline Hoare |
| author_facet | Gabriella N. Stein Nicole Phillips Mothabisi N. Nyathi Jacqueline Hoare |
| author_sort | Gabriella N. Stein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Youth are susceptible to experiencing loneliness, which is associated with poor mental health and substance use. However, there are limited data from low-middle-income settings especially in youth living with HIV. This study investigated loneliness in South African youth and association with perinatal HIV infection (PHIV), mental health and substance use. A cross-sectional descriptive exploratory study of youth with PHIV and HIV negative youth aged 17–24 years was conducted measuring loneliness and associations with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma exposure, coping, resilience and substance use. Of 122 youth, a moderate to high degree of loneliness was found in 92.6%. Loneliness was associated with female sex, depression, anxiety, PTSD, negative coping, lower levels of resilience and exposure to trauma. Loneliness was not associated with PHIV or substance use. Given the high levels of loneliness, peer-based interventions for youth aimed at improving social support, depression and anxiety should be strengthened. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5823ab4785b142029df0de9a4ee0a22a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| spelling | doaj-art-5823ab4785b142029df0de9a4ee0a22a2025-08-20T03:15:04ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272025-12-0130110.1080/02673843.2025.2495877Loneliness in South African youth and its association with HIV infection, substance use and mental healthGabriella N. Stein0Nicole Phillips1Mothabisi N. Nyathi2Jacqueline Hoare3Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Paediatrics & Child Health and SA- MRC Unit on Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaYouth are susceptible to experiencing loneliness, which is associated with poor mental health and substance use. However, there are limited data from low-middle-income settings especially in youth living with HIV. This study investigated loneliness in South African youth and association with perinatal HIV infection (PHIV), mental health and substance use. A cross-sectional descriptive exploratory study of youth with PHIV and HIV negative youth aged 17–24 years was conducted measuring loneliness and associations with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma exposure, coping, resilience and substance use. Of 122 youth, a moderate to high degree of loneliness was found in 92.6%. Loneliness was associated with female sex, depression, anxiety, PTSD, negative coping, lower levels of resilience and exposure to trauma. Loneliness was not associated with PHIV or substance use. Given the high levels of loneliness, peer-based interventions for youth aimed at improving social support, depression and anxiety should be strengthened.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2495877Lonelinessmental healthsubstance useyouthHIVSouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Gabriella N. Stein Nicole Phillips Mothabisi N. Nyathi Jacqueline Hoare Loneliness in South African youth and its association with HIV infection, substance use and mental health International Journal of Adolescence and Youth Loneliness mental health substance use youth HIV South Africa |
| title | Loneliness in South African youth and its association with HIV infection, substance use and mental health |
| title_full | Loneliness in South African youth and its association with HIV infection, substance use and mental health |
| title_fullStr | Loneliness in South African youth and its association with HIV infection, substance use and mental health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Loneliness in South African youth and its association with HIV infection, substance use and mental health |
| title_short | Loneliness in South African youth and its association with HIV infection, substance use and mental health |
| title_sort | loneliness in south african youth and its association with hiv infection substance use and mental health |
| topic | Loneliness mental health substance use youth HIV South Africa |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2495877 |
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