Generalized anxiety and loneliness among the general population in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Background Loneliness has gained increasing attention for its detrimental effects on individuals’ mental and physical health. Anxiety, among other psychiatric conditions, has been associated with loneliness. This study assessed the association between loneliness and generalized anxiety and explored potential social moderators of this relationship. Furthermore, it aimed to identify sociodemographic and social factors associated with loneliness and generalized anxiety. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1084 adults aged ≥ 18 years. Participants completed a sociodemographic and social factors questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the three-item University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. Bivariate analyses were performed to assess factors associated with loneliness and generalized anxiety. In addition, moderation analyses were conducted to examine potential social factors moderating the association between loneliness and generalized anxiety. Results The findings revealed that loneliness had a significant positive association with generalized anxiety ( p  < 0.05). Both the frequency of contact with others and having someone to rely on and discuss problems with moderated this association. Individuals who lived alone; did not have someone to rely on and discuss problems with; had a personal history of psychiatric consultation or medication use; and had less frequent contact with friends, family members, and neighbors exhibited higher mean scores for loneliness and generalized anxiety compared with their counterparts. Furthermore, individuals with chronic disorders exhibited higher mean loneliness scores. Older age was significantly associated with lower generalized anxiety scores. Conclusions These findings highlight the detrimental effect of loneliness on mental health. Having someone to rely on and discuss problems with, as well as frequent contact with friends, family members, and neighbors, can buffer the negative impact of loneliness on mental health. Therefore, initiating appropriate strategies and public health policies to reduce loneliness and mitigate its negative consequences is necessary. These findings provide valuable insights for future research, particularly in Saudi Arabia, on potential moderators in the relationship between loneliness and anxiety. Clinical trial number Not applicable.