Exploring existential loneliness and sadness during adolescence

Loneliness and sadness are often used as indicators of worsening mental health among adolescents. Yet, these experiences are not illnesses in themselves but fundamental aspects of human life. There is therefore a risk that existential experiences are pathologised and inadequately addressed. During adolescence, existential reflections and feelings of loneliness and sadness may surface and can be difficult to manage without support. Professionals working with young people thus need a deeper understanding of adolescents’ experiences and needs.

The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate existential loneliness and sadness during adolescence.

The thesis comprises one quantitative cross-sectional study based on survey data (n=1489; 15–17 years), and three qualitative studies based on individual interviews (n=16; 15–21 years), retrospective written narratives (n=67; university students), and focus group discussions (n=30; 16–21 years).

Existential loneliness and sadness manifest in diverse ways and involve a vulnerability that is difficult to express. The experiences were linked to feeling different, misunderstood, and constrained, and to feelings of emptiness and being lost. Adolescents’ needs were found to vary between individuals and over time. Some wished for someone who listened and acknowledged their experiences, others needed solitude or temporary distance from painful emotions. There was a strong desire to have a trusted person available when needed.

Understanding existential loneliness and sadness during adolescence is closely connected to encounters with the unknown. Experiencing existential loneliness for the first time often involves a painful confrontation with uncertainty. As adolescents come to realise their own uniqueness, they may also recognise that they can never be fully understood by others, which can lead to feelings of remaining permanently unknown. Consequently, there is often a strong longing to be met with understanding and recognition, rather than invisibility.
However, the experiences may be hard for others to recognise and interpret, which complicates the provision of appropriate support and increases the risk that adolescents are left alone with their distress. Expressing vulnerability and sharing one’s inner experiences are central to identity development; withholding emotions and thoughts may therefore hinder this process. Adolescents experiencing existential loneliness wish to be met with respect and genuine interest in who they are and how they feel. They want reassurance that someone is available when needed. At the same time, their needs differ between individuals and fluctuate over time. Adequate support thus requires sensitivity to adolescents’ subjective and changing needs.