Students' Experience with Loneliness

Running head: STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS
STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction....................................................................................................................3
1.1 The Meaning of Loneliness.......................................................................................3
1.2 Thesis Statement........................................................................................................4
1.3 Area of Research........................................................................................................4
1.4 Aim of the Research..................................................................................................5
1.5 Purpose and Research Question.................................................................................5
1.6 Significance and Rationale........................................................................................5
1.7 Primary and Secondary Evidence..............................................................................6
2.0 Cause of Loneliness.......................................................................................................6
2.1 Different Personalities...............................................................................................7
2.2 Isolation from Friends................................................................................................7
2.3 Communication Difficulties and Cultural Differences..............................................8
3.0 Mental Health of a Student............................................................................................8
3.1 Anxiety......................................................................................................................8
3.2 Depression.................................................................................................................9
3.3 Boredom and Associated Coping Strategies............................................................10
4.0 Physical Health of a Student........................................................................................10
4.1 Inadequate Dietary Behaviors..................................................................................11
4.2 Difficulty to Sleep....................................................................................................12

2STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS
4.3 Difficulty to Concentrate.........................................................................................12
5.0 Conclusion...................................................................................................................12
5.1 Methods to Overcome..............................................................................................12
5.2 Summary..................................................................................................................13
References..........................................................................................................................14

3STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS
Research Question: How does loneliness affect the Mental and Physical Health of a
Student?
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The Meaning of Loneliness
A person can be labeled as ‘lonely’, according to Merriam-Webster, when she or he does
not engage in social interaction, prefers isolation from social engagement or is generally not
attended to by friends or peer groups. Additionally, a person may also be labeled as ‘lonely, or
perceived as experiencing a state of ‘loneliness’, when it is observed that she or he frequently
experiences feelings of sadness as a result of a prolonged condition of being devoid of social
contact and hence, leading to the concerned individual to feel desolate or bleak (Merriam-
Webster 2019). According to the Collins English Dictionary, loneliness may also occur when a
person does not have the opportunity to express his or her emotions, thoughts or engage in
conversation with desired friends or peers (Collins English Dictionary 2019).
Loneliness hence, not only leads to the individual feeling distressed but also results in a
number of physical and mental health conditions such as high levels of stress, increased risk of
suffering from conditions of mental illness like substance abuse, depression, suicidal tendency
and impaired cognitive functioning such as reduced memory and difficulty to take decisions.
Effects on physical health due to loneliness can also result in diseases of the heart and resultant
early mortality (Antunes et al. 2017). Specific populations may pose higher susceptibility to feel
lonely, and the related physical and mental health symptoms. These include students studying in
schools, colleges and university - and will comprise of the target population in this research.