Psychological mechanisms of experiencing loneliness under conditions of uncertainty

Abstract

The article examines psychological mechanisms of loneliness under conditions of uncertainty, particularly in prolonged war-related stress, social instability, and forced migration. The relevance is due to the growth of emotional maladaptation among people experiencing chronic uncertainty caused by military actions, loss of social ties, economic instability, and rapid changes in the social environment. Loneliness is considered not only as social isolation but as a multidimensional phenomenon including cognitive, emotional, behavioral, socio-perceptual, and existen-tial components. Uncertainty acts as a strong stress factor that reduces predictability and control over life, increases anxiety, and strengthens negative thinking patterns. In wartime conditions, loneliness is intensified by displacement, breakdown of relationships, social alienation, and emotional tension. It is supported by interconnected mechanisms. Cognitively, it is linked to catastrophizing, negative interpretation of social interactions, and distrust. Emotionally, it manifests as anxiety, depressive symptoms, exhaustion, and hopelessness. Behaviorally, loneliness is associated with avoidance, reduced social activity, and withdrawal. Socio-perceptually, it includes distorted perception of relationships, expectation of rejection, and feelings of alienation even in communication. Loneliness, anxiety, and depression form a unified system of emotional maladaptation. Loneliness can be both a cause and a consequence of these states, reinforcing a negative cycle. Key resources for overcoming loneliness include personal psychological resources, coping strategies, social support, and meaning-making processes that strengthen resilience. It is concluded that loneliness under uncertainty is an integrative indicator of social and emotional maladaptation requiring comprehensive psychological analysis and intervention strategies.