Perceived Social Support, Loneliness, and Depression Among Emerging Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study from India

This study examined the relationships between perceived social support, loneliness, and depression among 239 emerging adults (aged 18–25) in India. Perceived social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), loneliness using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3), and depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), all demonstrating strong internal consistency (α = .911, .890, and .856, respectively). Pearson correlations indicated that perceived social support was significantly and negatively associated with both loneliness and depression, while loneliness was positively associated with depression. Multiple regression analyses revealed that support from friends was the strongest predictor of loneliness (β = −.374, p < .001), whereas family support was the only significant predictor of depression (β = −.333, p < .001). No significant gender differences were observed. Loneliness significantly mediated the relationship between perceived social support and depression, underscoring its central role in emerging adult mental health.