Abstract
Loneliness is a painful and alienating experience, which is an increasingly widespread phenomenon all over the globe. However, this phenomenon is perceived and interpreted differently in the world. The present study aims to compare the emotional, social, and romantic loneliness between Bulgarians and Russians. The two Slavic countries are historically and culturally close, but at the same time, there are many differences. Some studies have found that in the minds of both Russian and Bulgarian young people, loneliness is associated with both negative and positive aspects. This creates a common ground for the analysis and interpretation of this phenomenon in both countries. But the Russian people are more characterized by a positive-resource view of loneliness, while Bulgarian young people emphasize the negative. The study involved 608 people from Bulgaria and Russia aged 18-73 years. They completed the short version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults by Di Tommaso E., Brannen C., Best L.A. (2004). The results indicated that „romantic loneliness“was108 the most pronounced and present with its frequency in the content of the overall experience of loneliness. This outlines deficits, expectations, and emotions that are realized / function / in the deeply personal world of the person, of the studied groups of adults both in Bulgaria and in Russia. In second place in terms of its representation is the "social loneliness", which stands out among the studied adults from Bulgaria according to its marginal values. In the third place as third structural-content component is the "emotional loneliness", which is especially present in the experiences of the respondents from Bulgaria in comparison with those from Russia. Statistically significant results on the factors "country", “age” and "marital status" are also discussed.
Highlights
Loneliness is defined as a subjective, unpleasant, and stressful experience that results from the difference between the desired and achieved quality in a social group and is problematic for human mental health (Vanhalst et al, 2014; Zhao et al, 2018)
The analysis of loneliness is a holistic experience for individuals, but the study of this phenomenon requires it to be considered in detail and to analyze its main components "emotional loneliness", "social loneliness" and "romantic/intimate-personal loneliness"
No statistically significant differences were found on the "social loneliness" scale
Summary
Loneliness is defined as a subjective, unpleasant, and stressful experience that results from the difference between the desired and achieved quality in a social group and is problematic for human mental health (Vanhalst et al, 2014; Zhao et al, 2018). DiTomasso and Spinner (1993) subsequently proposed a new tripartite theory of loneliness, based on which a scale is made, which assesses solitude in three aspects: social, emotional, and intimatepersonal. In this approach, loneliness, experience with the partner and in the family is considered part of emotional loneliness. Loneliness, experience with the partner and in the family is considered part of emotional loneliness The distinction between these three types of loneliness shows that people can be lonely in one domain and be satisfied in another domain (DiTommaso & Spinner, 1993). The aim of this study is to compare the levels of loneliness (emotional, social, and romantic/ intimatepersonal) between Bulgarians and Russians in adulthood. These countries differ in size, resources, and traditions, suggesting differences in psychological and social characteristics (Strizhitskaya et al, 2020)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
