Leisure time loneliness: A study on youth offices

This study aims to examine university students’ perceptions of loneliness experienced during their free time within the framework of social isolation, difficulties in forming bonds, social access difficulties, and emotional deprivation. The research was conducted to determine the levels of leisure loneliness among students participating in Munzur University Youth Office activities and to analyze whether these levels differed according to various demographic variables. The research group consists of 301 university students (158 women, 143 men) who volunteered to participate in activities during the 2024–2025 academic year. The “Personal Information Form” and the “Leisure Time Loneliness Scale” were used in the data collection process. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS 26.0 program; frequency, percentage, t-test, One-Way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD tests. The findings indicate that students’ levels of leisure loneliness are generally low to moderate; although they participate in social interactions, they experience limitations in forming deep and sustainable bonds. Although gender and age were found to have no significant effect on overall loneliness levels, men were found to be more prone to emotional deprivation, while students aged 24 and above were found to be more prone to isolation. Additionally, it was determined that first-year students experience greater difficulty in forming social bonds, students who participate more frequently in youth office activities have lower levels of leisure loneliness, and students in the high-income group experience greater difficulty in terms of emotional fulfillment. In conclusion, it was found that levels of leisure loneliness did not show a significant difference according to demographic variables such as gender, age, and educational status. However, it was determined that variables such as frequency of participation in youth office activities, social bonding processes, and emotional deprivation were more closely related to leisure loneliness