Research Article: Sadness and Loneliness in Adolescents with Physical, Sensory or Health Problems in Low/Middle-Income Countries
Abstract:
Feelings of loneliness and sadness are increasing among the global youth, especially in disadvantaged settings. Young people with disabilities from low-income countries may be at greater risk of experiencing such emotions. This study aims to assess the dependence between difficulties/disability and sadness, loneliness and crying for no reason in young people from low- to middle-income countries and to test the risk of experiencing these emotions in young people with different disabilities versus the overall population. A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the Programme for International Student Assessment for Development survey, with 34,604 participants aged 15 years from seven countries: Cambodia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Senegal, and Zambia. Dependent relationships were found between difficulties/disabilities and loneliness, sadness and crying. People with disabilities had a higher prevalence of these emotions. The probability of experiencing sadness, loneliness and crying was higher among people with difficulties/disabilities. Young people with disabilities in low-income countries are at a higher risk of experiencing feelings of loneliness, sadness and crying compared to the general population of the same age.
Introduction:
Loneliness is distress caused by perceived dissatisfaction with the quantity or quality of social relationships [1]. Although loneliness can occur at all ages, it is relatively frequent among young people. While short-term loneliness may be adaptive, causing a reconnection with peers and tightening of social relationships, when it becomes chronic it has adverse effects on young people’s physical and mental health, increasing vulnerability to drug use, poorer sleep quality and higher anxiety or depression levels…
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