BACHELOR’S THESIS Author: Marika Alm, Eva Hagman-Reuter, Jessica Kakko, Sara Löfs-Snellman, Anna Wicklén Degree Programme: Social services, Turku Specialization: Bachelor of social services Supervisors: Gunilla Björklund, Johanna Wikgren-Roelofs Title: Loneliness and young adults _________________________________________________________________________ Date 29.04.2019 Number of pages 35 Appendices 3 _________________________________________________________________________ Summary This bachelor’s thesis is a part of a planned cooperation project partnered with the Johannes parish in Helsinki. The project has two purposes, to conduct a research overview about loneliness amongst young adults and how it affects them, as well as surveying Swedish activities in Helsinki aimed at lonely young adults based on the research findings. The bachelor’s thesis is a qualitative study. Data were collected for the analysis and by using inductive content analysis 15 scientific articles were analysed, additionally were activities mapped within eight different organizations. One result showed that the number of lonely persons is higher among younger adults than within any other age group. The results also revealed that loneliness had a connection with several factors, such as health, gender, relationships, home situations and employment. People without employment or studies have a greater risk to have depression or suicidal thoughts. Mental health has a strong connection to loneliness, but it is too difficult to determine whether mental health is the cause of loneliness or the other way around. Loneliness brings a greater risk for early death. To prevent loneliness, early initiatives are proposed in families, day care centres and schools. Regarding existing activities in Swedish in Helsinki for lonely young adults, there can be versatile activities which both indirectly and directly strive to counter loneliness. During the work process, the writers have concluded, that loneliness is a multifaceted and complex phenomenon and that it has a negative effect on young adults. ________________________________________________________________________ Language: Swedish Key words: Loneliness, lonely, young adults, health, gender, home situation, employment, education, income, mental illness _________________________________________________________________________