In an era marked by hyperconnectivity and digital immersion, the issue of loneliness among young people arises with pressing urgency. The recent study titled “Unwanted Youth and Loneliness in Spain”, orchestrated by the ONCE Foundation in collaboration with Ayuda en Acción, sheds light on this omnipresent, but often silent, struggle. The first of its kind in Spain, this research strives to map the landscape of youth loneliness, offering a critical lens on the factors that contribute to this emotional affliction.
The study, which involves a demographic of 1,800 young people aged 16 to 29, reveals that a significant 25.5% of Spanish youth currently struggle with feelings of loneliness. Alarmingly, almost 70% have encountered such emotions at some point in their lives, indicating a widespread phenomenon. The long-lasting nature of this loneliness is highlighted, with three-quarters of affected youth reporting a period of loneliness that exceeds a year. Gender and age disparities emerge, with women and those aged 22 to 27 disproportionately affected. Furthermore, unemployment, poverty, harassment, poor health, disability, foreign origin and LGBTI identification emerge as exacerbating factors.
This study not only sheds light on the complexity of unwanted loneliness among young people in Spain but also offers a basis for the development of policies and programs aimed at mitigating this phenomenon. It represents a crucial step towards understanding and taking action against a problem that affects a significant part of the youth population.
