Towards a relational understanding of loneliness

This article addresses the rising concern of a global loneliness epidemic, highlighting the limitations of current sociological approaches, which are predominantly deductive and quantitative. Existing sociological frameworks often adopt an individualisation thesis, linking loneliness to the weakening of social bonds in a contemporary culture that prizes consumerism and individualism above quality relationships. In contrast, this article draws on an inductive, qualitative study of young people to propose a relational approach to loneliness experiences. This approach, developed from the sociology of personal life, underscores the significance of wide-ranging relationships and societal expectations in shaping experiences of loneliness. The study reveals that young people’s loneliness is deeply relational, tied to their sense of self and their perceived deviations from commonly accepted ways of living. This relational perspective challenges prevailing narratives that attribute youth loneliness to modern cultural deficiencies and technological overuse.