Exploring the frequency, intensity, and duration of loneliness, and its correlates, among young adults in education: A latent class analysis of data from the EU loneliness survey

This paper examines how loneliness manifests among young adult students ages 18–24 years (n = 543) across the European Union and identifies which factors distinguish severe, persistent loneliness from more transient experiences. Using latent class analysis of EU Loneliness Survey data, the study integrates loneliness frequency, intensity, and duration to identify distinct loneliness profiles, rather than treating loneliness as a single, uniform construct. Guided by the Socio-Ecological Model, it tested how individual, interpersonal, community, and societal factors are associated with those profiles. In doing so, the paper fills a critical gap in the literature by moving beyond descriptive, variable-centred, and single-country studies to provide the first EU-wide, person-centred analysis of loneliness severity among young adult students. The findings demonstrate that severe loneliness is primarily differentiated by subjective interpersonal processes, particularly low perceived social support and unmet social needs, rather than by community participation or many commonly assumed individual and societal risk factors. Findings offer clearer targets for theory, policy, and intervention in higher education contexts.