Do loneliness and love coexist? Examining the affiliation between relationship satisfaction and loneliness among emerging adults
Description
The study focuses on the associations among intimacy, passion, relationship satisfaction, and loneliness among emerging adults. The research hypotheses are: 1. romantic love would negatively predict loneliness in romantic relationships, 2. relationship satisfaction would negatively predict loneliness in romantic relationships, 3. Intimacy would mediate the association between relationship satisfaction and loneliness, and 4. Passion would mediate the association between relationship satisfaction and loneliness. Our data shows the noticeable impacts of romantic love and relationship satisfaction on loneliness. But, as opposed to our hypotheses, intimacy, and passion did not mediate the association between relationship satisfaction and loneliness. The noticeable finding shows that both intimacy and passion contribute to the enhancement of satisfaction in romantic relationships with direct effects. However, the mediating variables do not have direct effects on loneliness. Intimacy and passion relate to loneliness only through relationship satisfaction. The study findings from the data also confirm the previous research on the gender differences in the study variables. There are no gender differences between males and females in intimacy, passion, relationship satisfaction, and loneliness. This would mean that both males and females find their relationship mutually rewarding. The data is all about components of romantic love, namely, intimacy and passion, relationship satisfaction, and loneliness. The data were collected using the freely available standardized tools of Sternberg's Triangular theory of love scale, Loneliness scale, and relationship satisfaction scale from emerging adults (18-25 years) in romantic relationships. The questionnaires were sent to the participants through Google Forms via electronic media. The data can be interpreted in terms of romantic love among the participants, and its relationship with loneliness and relationship satisfaction.