Loneliness and the Single, the Widowed, and the Divorced

Little has appeared in the literature on psychotherapeutic treatment of loneliness in the single, the widowed, and the divorced. Further, not enough clarification of the differences in loneliness in these three groups has been evidenced. This article attempts to clarify such differences, reviewing some definitions and attributions of loneliness, discussing gender differences and marital status in loneliness. Clinical cases for each of the three groups are presented. Psychotherapy with the lonely is discussed, with stress on the needs and concerns of the lonely and cautions for the therapist in working with lonely patients. 53 references.