Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
Loneliness and multiple health domains: associations among emerging adults
Lilian G Perez1, Daniel Siconolfi2, Wendy M Troxel2
1RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407-2138, USA. lperez@rand.org.
Abstract:
Emerging adults (18-25 years), particularly racially/ethnically diverse and sexual and gender minority populations, may experience loneliness following major life transitions. How loneliness relates to health and health disparities during this developmental period is not well understood. We examine associations of loneliness with physical (self-rated health), behavioral (alcohol/marijuana consequences; nicotine dependence), and health behavior outcomes (weekday and weekend sleep; trouble sleeping), and investigate moderating effects by sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual/gender minority (SGM) status. Adjusted models using cross-sectional data from 2,534 emerging adults, predominantly in California, examined associations between loneliness and each outcome and tested interactions of loneliness with sex, race/ethnicity, and SGM status. Higher loneliness was significantly associated with worse self-rated health, higher marijuana consequences, less weekday sleep, and greater odds of feeling bothered by trouble sleeping. None of the interactions were significant. Findings suggest that interventions to reduce loneliness may help promote healthy development among emerging adults across subgroups.
Related Concept Videos
Social Relationships and Well-Being
Emerging Adulthood
Importance of Need for Affiliation
Dimensions of Health and Illness
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
Relationship Formation

