Correlates of loneliness as perceived by the terminally Ill

The pain of loneliness is a universal social phenomenon, which is intensified by a diagnosis of a terminal illness. The present study investigated the causes of loneliness as perceived by HIV/AIDS patients, those diagnosed with cancer, and the general population. Forty-three HIV/AIDS patients, 38 cancer patients, and 53 participants from the general population answered a 29 item questionnaire. Results indicated that with the exception of social marginality, those afflicted with HIV/AIDS perceived the causes of their loneliness to be significantly different from those of the other two samples. Secondly, cancer patients and subjects from the general population did not differ significantly in the perceived causes of their loneliness. The author thanks Dr. Joe Regan, Fabio Belpulsi, Joann Bennett, Yvone Peterson, and Gina Ramberan for their invaluable assistance.