“Oh my God I am alone”: young adult students’ experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertainty
This study explores young adult students’ experiences of living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing a vital research gap by investigating the collective influence of youth, student status, and solitary living on mental health. Remote semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18–24-ye...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2298082 |
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| author | Jenny M. Groarke Lydia McKeown Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley Lisa Graham-Wisener |
| author_facet | Jenny M. Groarke Lydia McKeown Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley Lisa Graham-Wisener |
| author_sort | Jenny M. Groarke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores young adult students’ experiences of living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing a vital research gap by investigating the collective influence of youth, student status, and solitary living on mental health. Remote semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18–24-year-olds in UK universities who had lived alone for at least 2 weeks between September 2020 and March 2021 (N = 8; 4 males; 19–24 years, M = 21.75). Reflexive thematic analysis identified four themes and two subthemes. Living alone was experienced as confinement, accompanied by loneliness and perceptions of loss and injustice. The experience significantly impacted mental health, which was exacerbated by social isolation and withdrawal. Accessing social support and connection through technology was protective. Findings have implications for the design of interventions for young people dealing with isolation. Improving emotion regulation and social skills and preventing social withdrawal are important intervention targets. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd3a92a13bc74ab6bf4544b818a29a5b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd3a92a13bc74ab6bf4544b818a29a5b2025-08-20T02:30:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272024-12-0129110.1080/02673843.2023.2298082“Oh my God I am alone”: young adult students’ experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertaintyJenny M. Groarke0Lydia McKeown1Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley2Lisa Graham-Wisener3School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, IrelandCentre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern IrelandCentre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern IrelandCentre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern IrelandThis study explores young adult students’ experiences of living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing a vital research gap by investigating the collective influence of youth, student status, and solitary living on mental health. Remote semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18–24-year-olds in UK universities who had lived alone for at least 2 weeks between September 2020 and March 2021 (N = 8; 4 males; 19–24 years, M = 21.75). Reflexive thematic analysis identified four themes and two subthemes. Living alone was experienced as confinement, accompanied by loneliness and perceptions of loss and injustice. The experience significantly impacted mental health, which was exacerbated by social isolation and withdrawal. Accessing social support and connection through technology was protective. Findings have implications for the design of interventions for young people dealing with isolation. Improving emotion regulation and social skills and preventing social withdrawal are important intervention targets.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2298082Mental healthlonelinesssocial isolationyoung adultsstudentsCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Jenny M. Groarke Lydia McKeown Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley Lisa Graham-Wisener “Oh my God I am alone”: young adult students’ experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertainty International Journal of Adolescence and Youth Mental health loneliness social isolation young adults students COVID-19 |
| title | “Oh my God I am alone”: young adult students’ experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertainty |
| title_full | “Oh my God I am alone”: young adult students’ experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertainty |
| title_fullStr | “Oh my God I am alone”: young adult students’ experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertainty |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Oh my God I am alone”: young adult students’ experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertainty |
| title_short | “Oh my God I am alone”: young adult students’ experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertainty |
| title_sort | oh my god i am alone young adult students experiences of living alone in a time of global uncertainty |
| topic | Mental health loneliness social isolation young adults students COVID-19 |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2298082 |
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