Loneliness and well-being in emerging adulthood: An Indonesian context

Abstract

Subjective well-being is individuals' evaluation of their lives and experiences. Previous studies have shown that loneliness is correlated with subjective well-being. However, much research on loneliness and well being has focused on older adults. Moreover, even though it is studied in emerging adults, research on loneliness and well-being is still mostly found in western countries with individualistic contexts. This study aims to analyze the correlation betweenloneliness and subjective well-being among emerging adults in Indonesia. The participants were 376 emerging adults, and taken using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using the Positive Affect Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). and the UCLA Loneliness Scale Ver. 3. The Pearson product moment technique was used for correlation analysis. The results showed a significant negative correlation between loneliness and subjective well-being (r = -0.600, p = <0.001), indicating that higher levels of loneliness are associated with lower levels of subjective well-being in emerging adulthood. This finding underscores the importance of addressing loneliness as a key factor in promoting the subjective well-being of emerging adults and suggests a need for intervention that foster social connections and support.