The Experience of Loneliness Among young Adult Cancer Patients

Abstract

This study compared possible differences in feelings of loneliness in various life situations among young adult cancer patients and healthy controls. Sixty patients and 38 controls completed a brief demo raphic questionnaire and the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and responded to an open-ended question about loneliness. Although the authors observed no significant differences in the mean loneliness scores of the three groups, they found that unmarried patients expressed higher levels of loneliness than did all other subjects. In addition, approximately half the patients felt lonely in illness-related situations, whereas no healthy subject expressed that reaction. The implications of the study for psychosocial professionals who work with cancer patients are discussed.