Understanding Loneliness in Emerging Adulthood|Webinar Recap

On April 2, 2025, the KORALE network hosted a compelling and eye-opening webinar focused on Understanding and Addressing Loneliness in Young Adulthood. It was attended by more than 70 people from different European regions including Gipuzkoa, Vienna, Lisbon, Fingal County, Aalst and Central Denmark. With prolonged loneliness among young adults on the rise, this event tackled a critical public health concern linked to depression, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. Despite increasing awareness, there remains a pressing need to understand how loneliness truly feels for young people and what contributes to their sense of disconnectedness.

Exploring Loneliness Through Lived Experiences

This engaging session presented findings from an in-depth qualitative study that delved into how young adults experience and cope with prolonged loneliness in their daily lives. Utilizing cultural probes and comprehensive interviews, the study revealed the diverse, often hidden faces of loneliness, internal struggles, and the complex coping mechanisms young people employ.

Webinar Agenda:

• Welcome (5 min)
• "Loneliness in Emerging Adulthood" (35 min):
  Berit Kjærside Nielsen, Program Leader and Senior Researcher at DEFACTUM, Central Denmark Region, shared powerful insights from her research on young people's lived experiences of loneliness.
• Personal Experience of Loneliness (10 min):
  Thea Iversen from More Together’s Youth Think Tank bravely opened up about her own journey navigating loneliness, offering a unique and relatable perspective.
• Q&A and Discussion (10 min):
  A lively, interactive segment where participants engaged with experts, sharing thoughts, asking questions, and discussing potential solutions.
• Closing Remarks (5 min)

📌 Missed the Webinar? Watch the Recording & Access Documentation:

Catch up on the full session and explore the presentation materials here: 

This event brought together researchers, practitioners, and young people themselves to address the challenges of loneliness in emerging adulthood and work toward creating supportive, connected communities.

Let’s keep the conversation going and collaborate to make meaningful change!