NORMALIZATION OF LONELINESS: INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF INTENSIVE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT USE

Year 2025, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 190 - 207

Mehtap Tunç Zengin , Cem Sütcü

Abstract

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, prolonged lockdowns and restrictive measures pushed individuals to spend more time in virtual environments, prompting a reassessment of perceptions related to loneliness in these spaces. This study examines whether such a shift signifies the normalization of loneliness, particularly through its impulsive and compulsive expressions. Employing quantitative methods, the research investigates the relationship between impulsivity, compulsive internet use, and loneliness, using data collected from 774 university students through three scales. The data were analyzed using reliability tests, factor analysis, normality checks, correlation, and MANCOVA. Findings reveal that virtual environment loneliness varies significantly by gender, field of study, marital status, and employment status. Single students reported higher levels of virtual socialization, while social sciences students and unemployed participants demonstrated higher levels of virtual sharing and trust. Notably, no differences were found based on university location. There is a significant association between impulsivity and compulsive internet use, with attentional impulsiveness negatively correlated with preoccupation, loss of control, and mood modification. Preoccupation affects all dimensions of virtual loneliness, while mood modification impacts only socialization. Motor impulsiveness and physical restlessness influence virtual socialization, and non-planning impulsiveness affects virtual trust. The results underscore the complex interplay between personality traits, digital behavior, and loneliness in the virtual age.

Keywords

COVID-19, Loneliness, Virtual Environment

Project Number

2024-50101-128

YALNIZLIĞIN NORMALLEŞMESİ: SANAL ORTAMIN UZUN SÜRELİ KULLANIM ETKİLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemisiyle birlikte uygulanan uzun süreli karantina ve kısıtlamalar, bireylerin sanal ortamlarda daha fazla vakit geçirmesine neden olmuş ve bu durum, yalnızlık algılarının yeniden değerlendirilmesini beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu çalışma, özellikle dürtüsel ve kompulsif eğilimler üzerinden, bu değişimin sanal ortamlarda yalnızlığın normalleşmesine işaret edip etmediğini incelemektedir. Nicel yöntemlerin kullanıldığı araştırmada, dürtüsellik, kompulsif internet kullanımı ve yalnızlık arasındaki ilişki, 774 üniversite öğrencisinden toplanan verilerle analiz edilmiştir. Veriler; güvenilirlik testleri, faktör analizi, normallik testi, korelasyon ve MANCOVA analizleriyle değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, sanal ortam yalnızlığının cinsiyet, öğrenim alanı, medeni durum ve istihdam durumuna göre anlamlı farklılık gösterdiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bekâr öğrenciler daha fazla sanal sosyalleşme yaşarken, sosyal bilimler öğrencileri ve işsiz bireyler daha yüksek paylaşım ve güven düzeyleri bildirmiştir. Dürtüsellik ile kompulsif internet kullanımı arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuş; dikkat dürtüselliği ile zihinsel meşguliyet, kontrol kaybı ve ruh hali düzenleme arasında negatif korelasyon saptanmıştır. Zihinsel meşguliyet tüm yalnızlık boyutlarını etkilerken, ruh hali düzenleme yalnızca sosyalleşmeyi etkilemiştir. Bulgular, bireysel eğilimler, dijital davranışlar ve yalnızlık arasında dijital çağın özgün koşullarına özgü karmaşık bir ilişkiyi gözler önüne sermektedir.

Keywords

COVID-19, Yalnızlık, Virtual Environment

Project Number

2024-50101-128

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