Combating the mental health challenge of loneliness among urban youth: could finding meaning in life and experiencing thriving enhance their well-being?

Objective: Loneliness is a growing mental health challenge among youth specially who are residing in urban areas. Factors that might help them combat loneliness need to be investigated. This study investigates the impact of meaning in life on loneliness, thriving, and well-being.

Method: A cross-sectional design was employed, with data collected from 328 urban youth aged 18-30 via an online survey. The survey included scales to measure presence of meaning, search for meaning, loneliness, thriving, and social, psychological, and emotional well-being. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the relationships between these variables.

Results: Presence of meaning was significantly positively associated with loneliness and thriving. While search for meaning had no association with loneliness but was significantly positively associated with thriving. Loneliness was significantly negatively associated with social, emotional, and psychological well-being. Thriving was significantly positively associated with social, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Discussion: The findings suggest that cultivating a sense of meaning in life is crucial for reducing loneliness and promoting well-being among urban youth. Educational institutions and mental health agencies should develop programs that help individuals find and pursue meaningful activities to foster thriving. Future research should explore these dynamics in various cultural contexts and utilize longitudinal designs to confirm causality.