Feeling lonely: theoretical perspectives.

Much has been written about the phenomenon of loneliness. Despite the plethora of theoretical information concerning loneliness, the phenomenon lacks a clear, consensual definition. Nurses often work with persons who feel lonely. Feeling lonely is a phenomenon that is a universal lived experience that is significant to health and quality of life. In this column, the author examines the existing body of theoretical knowledge regarding the phenomenon of feeling lonely. The author's perspective is the human becoming theory, in which health is viewed as the way individuals live what is important to them.