Family Function and Loneliness Among Adolescents and Young Adulthood: Systematic Review

Abstract

Loneliness can occur at any age but typically increases during adolescence and early adulthood, causing risks to mental health and overall well-being. External factors, such as family functioning (including family cohesion, flexibility, and communication), can significantly influence loneliness. This systematic literature review aims to analyze 13 studies on family functioning and loneliness among adolescents and young adults. The review utilized databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed, identifying 1518 articles, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria. The analysis identified three main themes: (a) dimensions of family function related to loneliness; (b) the impact of family function on loneliness, and (c) the role of family function and loneliness as mediators or moderators. The synthesis of these articles reveals a consistent negative association between family functioning and loneliness across diverse cultures and age groups among adolescents and young adults. The findings underscore the potential effectiveness of enhancing family functioning as a strategy to mitigate and prevent loneliness issues in individuals.