Searching for Meaning While Battling Loneliness: Moderating role of Personality in Young adults

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37708/psyct.v19i1.1092

Keywords:

Loneliness, Meaning in Life, Neuroticism, Personality, University Students, Young Adults

Abstract

Loneliness negatively affects the mental health of University students. Feelings of loneliness are associated with a lack of meaning in life. However, this relationship can vary due to individual personality differences. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between meaning in life and loneliness among University students and the moderating influence of personality dimensions. The sample of the present study consisted of 201 University students, and a multistage random sampling technique was utilized to select the sample from the Bathinda district of Punjab, India, while JASP was used to examine the structural equation model analysis. The result showed a negative and significant moderating impact of neuroticism subtypes of personality on the search for meaning in life and loneliness (b=-.047, t=-2.634, p=.008). The present research highlights the importance of addressing the high rates of loneliness and the need for a proper support system among students to make sure that they are not feeling lonely and reach out for help if needed. Neuroticism plays an important role in moderating the relationship between meaning in life and loneliness; stress and anxiety management techniques should be taught to all students that help them manage these emotions.

Author Biographies

  • Arjun Raj K P, Wadihuda Institute of Research and Advanced Studies
    Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
  • Rebeka Debbarma, Central University of Punjab
    Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
  • Saksham Kesarwani, Central University of Punjab
    Research Scholar, Department of Psychology

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

2026-05-31

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Research Articles

License

Authors who publish with Psychological Thought (PSYCT) agree to the following terms:

Creative Commons License

Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Under the CC BY license, authors retain ownership of the copyright for their article, but authors grant others permission to use the content of publications in PSYCT in whole or in part provided that the original work is properly cited. Users (redistributors) of PSYCT are required to cite the original source, including the author's names, PSYCT as the initial source of publication, year of publication, volume number and DOI (if available).

Authors may publish the manuscript in any other journal or medium but any such subsequent publication must include a notice that the manuscript was initially published by PSYCT.

Authors grant PSYCT the right of first publication. Although authors remain the copyright owner, they grant the journal the irrevocable, nonexclusive rights to publish, reproduce, publicly distribute and display, and transmit their article or portions thereof in any manner.