Abstract
Loneliness
is a pervasive human experience. It is a subjective experience that is
influenced by one’s personality and situational variables. Loneliness has been
recognized as a public health problem that requires the attention of clinicians
and researchers both as a condition in itself and its relationship to other
conditions.
The
study examined and generated an in-depth understanding of loneliness as
experienced by eight individuals (65 years and above) living independently. A
hermeneutic-phenomenological approach was used to describe and interpret the
meaning of loneliness in the lived experience of elderly individuals. These
interpretations were made possible through the support of the incidental
themes, which were formulated by the participants’ descriptions of their
experiences of loneliness. Through interpretation, four themes emerged from
explanations of how the elderly individuals interpreted loneliness. First, the
participants experienced the existence of a painful void. Second, the participants
experienced a state of being overwhelmed with work and emotion. Third,
participants experienced a state of emotional pain. Fourth, the participants
experienced a state of no direction.
These findings affirmed that negative feelings
were associated with loneliness according to the participants’ descriptions.
Understanding the common themes and meanings of the lived experience of these
elderly individuals provides an effective base for the therapeutic relationship
between counselor and the elder. The strengths and limitations of the study,
and significant implications of the findings and future research, practice and
education in counseling, were identified.
