Despite the lively nature of LINE and Instagram... Research reveals the "gap between loneliness and comfort" experienced by Generation Z.

"Feeling Lonely Despite Having Friends" - The Discomfort Among Young People

After school is filled with club activities, weekends with drinking parties or supporting favorite idols, and LINE group notifications are constantly buzzing.
Yet, when night falls, you might suddenly feel a sense of unease, thinking, "I feel left behind." Have you ever experienced such a sensation?

A recent large-scale study conducted in the United States has corroborated this contradictory emotion with data.
The research team surveyed 4,812 Americans aged 18 to 95, measuring aspects of "social health" such as the number of friends, perceived support, and feelings of loneliness.dx.plos.org

The results showed thatwhile the younger generation feels they have many friends and are supported, they also experience strong feelings of loneliness and alienation, indicating a state where seemingly opposing extremes coexist.Phys.org

Connected Yet Lonely—The Reality of Young People as Depicted by Research

Researchers classified participants into several types based on both "social fulfillment (connectedness)" and "social distress (loneliness and disconnection)" indicators.
Among them, the most notable were those who"have many connections but also a relatively high sense of loneliness."dx.plos.org

This group mainly comprised individuals such as:

• Young in age (so-called "emerging adults" in their 20s)

• Many are women receiving university education

• Have experienced several major life events over the past year, such as moving, changing jobs, or starting and ending romantic relationshipsdx.plos.org

They are blessed with friends, have many people to consult, and are adept at forming new relationships.
Yet, they are often haunted by feelings of "vague anxiety" and "uncertainty about the future," and at unexpected moments, they are struck by deep loneliness.Phys.org

The Keyword is "Ontological Security"—Is a "Foundation" More Important Than Friends?

A concept that played a crucial role in this study is **"ontological security."**
It may sound complex, but simply put,

it's the feeling that "my life will continue without major disruptions tomorrow or next month."

Phys.org

Home, work, family or partner, familiar cafes or schools—when these serve as "unchanging backgrounds," people can engage with others with peace of mind.

Conversely, in an unstable life characterized by frequent moves, non-regular employment, and "wait-and-see" states in both love and work,no matter how many friends you have, there's a persistent unease that these relationships might vanish at any moment.

In fact, the survey showedthat older individuals with stable lives tend to have fewer friends but also experience lower loneliness.Phys.org

It is highly likely that "a continued outlook on life" rather than "many friends" supports social well-being.

Did SNS Increase "Connections" or Loneliness?

So, how does the presence of SNS affect this?
Another study reports thatthe higher the usage time and frequency of SNS, the stronger the tendency for loneliness.Phys.org

Timelines constantly filled with friends' updates and fun photos are said to intensify the feeling of "Am I the only one missing out?"—commonly known as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

SNS indeed made it easier to communicate, but at the same time, it has become a **"show window for comparison."**

The state of "being connected yet lonely" highlighted by this study seems to align well with such contradictions of the SNS era.

Even when schedules are packed both online and offline, there might be a quiet accumulation of anxiety somewhere in the heart, questioning whether "this is truly my place."

SNS Reactions: Young People's Voices of "Deep Understanding"

When this news was introduced in overseas media and SNS, it was met with a flood of empathetic comments.
Here, we will introduce some "typical reactions" based on actual posting trends and delve into their backgrounds.

◆ Voice 1: "My schedule is packed, but the way home is the loneliest"

"I hang out with friends on weekends, and the group chat is always active, but the train ride home is the loneliest."

Such posts often receive replies like "I understand" and "The train time on the way home is the darkest."
While being together is fun,the contrast of being thrust back into "everyday life" the moment you part waysseems to strongly heighten the awareness of loneliness.

As the research suggests, the loneliness of young people is more tied to "life instability" than to relationships themselves.dx.plos.org
The more uncertain the everyday life awaiting after playtime, the greater the contrast becomes.

◆ Voice 2: "The more friends I have, the fewer people I feel I can be honest with"

"I've made more acquaintances, but the number of people I feel safe showing my weaknesses to hasn't increased at all."

As the number of followers and group chats increases, so does the pressure to "keep being liked."
As a result,the number of people you can show your true self to is surprisingly limited to just a few—a dilemma arises.

The research team also emphasizes not only the "number of friends" but also "whether you feel supported" and "how much intimacy you feel" when measuring social health.dx.plos.org
Online "connections" alone may not sufficiently cover these qualitative aspects.

◆ Voice 3: "Because all life events are 'on hold,' friendships feel temporary too"

"I'm not a full-time employee, I don't know if I'll get married, and I can't decide where to keep living.
So even my current friendships feel 'temporary' and hard to connect to the future."

This comment closely reflects the core of the study.
The authors state that the **"continuous transition periods"** experienced by young people, such as employment, job changes, moving, and the beginnings and endings of romantic relationships, are major factors contributing to feelings of loneliness.dx.plos.org

When the foundation of life remains "temporary," friendships also tend to feel like "temporary relationships" whose duration is uncertain.

◆ Voice 4: "Knowing I wasn't the only one actually made me feel a bit relieved"

"I thought I was the only 'selfish person' who felt unfulfilled despite having friends.
But knowing so many others feel the same way makes it seem a bit more normal."

This reaction well represents the positive aspect of the research findings.
The survey does not portray the story that "all young people are lonely and pitiful."
Rather, it importantly shows that **"feeling lonely itself is not proof of having no friends."**Phys.org

Loneliness is Not a "Failure" but a Side Effect of a Long Transition Period

Researchers depict the loneliness of young people not as a "dead end," but as a **"milestone" on the way to becoming an adult.**Phys.org

• Moving to a new city

• Building new relationships at university or work

• Exploring romantic relationships or partnerships

• Searching for direction in work or career

All these events are challenges with the potential to lead to future stability.
However, in the process, there may be a need to let go of previous communities and familiar daily life.
The challenge of "creating future happiness" might temporarily increase "current loneliness"—that might be the reality for young people.

What We Can Do: Cultivate "Continued Relationships" and "Small Comforts" Over Quantity

So, what can we do in this contradictory state?
Based on the research and voices on SNS, the following points emerge.

1. Value the "sense of continuity" rather than the "number" of friends

   • Even if you don't meet or chat every day, prioritize relationships that you feel will continue six months or a year from now.

2. Create an "unchanging place" in some part of your life

   • Having a place like a favorite cafe or bar, an online community, or a hobby club where you feel "it's okay to return here" is a step toward enhancing ontological security.Phys.org

3. Use SNS with the mindset of a "communication tool" rather than for "comparison"

   • Research increasingly suggests that sending messages to a few important people rather than endlessly scrolling through feeds can ease feelings of loneliness.##HTML_TAG_432