Authors

• Finnish Literature Society. Archive

Keywords

emotional states, friends, health, interpersonal relationships, loneliness, social networks, well-being (health)

Abstract

The dataset consists of self-administered written texts on experiences of loneliness. The participants wrote about their experiences with loneliness during different stages of their lives. The data was collected in collaboration with MIELI Mental Health Finland and HelsinkiMissio.

The writing guidelines directed participants to write about their experiences of loneliness, the emotions elicited by those experiences, and their own relationship with loneliness. Additionally, participants were asked to write about the impact of loneliness on their lives, and how their experiences of loneliness and the feelings they associate with loneliness have changed throughout their lives. Participants were also invited to describe the ways they dealt with loneliness, how loneliness affected their health and wellbeing, and how loneliness could be prevented at a societal level. Some participants also chose to write about the difference between loneliness and being alone and experiencing loneliness while with others.

Background information included the participant's gender, year of birth, occupation, and area of residence. The data were organised into an easy to use HTML version at FSD.

The dataset is only available in Finnish.