What is it about?
This study tracked self-reports of loneliness from day to day among a sample of 98 adults who filled out daily surveys for two straight weeks. People who were classified as “lonely” (either acutely or chronically) reported higher average daily loneliness than people who were not lonely. Among those who were chronically lonely, their daily loneliness levels fluctuated more - showing greater ups and downs from day to day - than among people who were not lonely (or acutely lonely).
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Why is it important?
These findings suggest that chronic loneliness isn’t just about feeling lonely overall, but also about more variability in loneliness from one day to the next. This information could help scientists and clinicians better understand when and for whom loneliness becomes a persistent problem, and when it might signal risk for longer-term consequences.
Perspectives
Chronic loneliness is far more than a passive trait - it is a dynamic process that alters how individuals perceive and interact with the social world in their daily lives. This study offers a starting point for future research to investigate important contextual factors in everyday life linked to the cycle of long-term loneliness.
Dr. Karina Van Bogart
Northwestern University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Daily loneliness deconstructed: Examining patterns of within- and between-person variation., Emotion, November 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/emo0001606.
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