Interpersonal Communication And Loneliness

Loneliness:
Much of the research for this study, of course, focused on loneliness and the findings show that it is viewed in many diverse ways. Just to refresh readers’ memories, “loneliness is defined as perceived deficiencies in one’s ongoing relationships” (Jin & Park, 2012). This means that a person feels as if s/he does not have enough friends or that the friendships that s/he may have are not as fulfilling as might be desired. Jin and Park (2012) say that studies regularly find that people who describe themselves as lonely have problems with interpersonal communication. Other researchers describe loneliness as a “disturbing experience” that results from negative social skills, which includes problems with “interpersonal decoding skills,

communication competence, and social attractiveness” (Wang, Fink, & Cai, 2008). While most people recognize loneliness when they experience it themselves, they may not always understand that another person is lonely. Unfortunately, loneliness is associated with negative physical and psychological health statuses too.