Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Internal migration in India is often accompanied by profound psychosocial challenges that remain underexplored in empirical research. The present exploratory mixed-method study investigated emotional deprivation, loneliness, and social disconnection among internal migrant labourers in Kanpur, India. A purposive sample of 50 migrant workers participated in the quantitative phase using the Emotional Deprivation Scale (EDS) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Both instruments demonstrated high internal consistency (α = .965 and α = .943, respectively). Descriptive and non-parametric analyses indicated substantial levels of perceived emotional neglect, relational insecurity, and subjective social isolation. A majority of participants endorsed statements reflecting lack of emotional support, absence of understanding, workplace abandonment, and persistent feelings of emptiness. Similarly, high agreement rates were observed for items indicating having no one to talk to, feeling completely alone, difficulty forming friendships, and longing for companionship. The qualitative interpretive component revealed four dominant themes related to emotional deprivation (lack of emotional support, perceived abandonment, emotional emptiness, and relational insecurity) and three themes related to loneliness (perceived social isolation, emotional non-understanding, and longing for companionship). Findings suggest that emotional deprivation and loneliness are interrelated psychosocial experiences shaped by occupational precarity, migration-related separation, and limited social integration. The study underscores the need for workplace-based support systems, community integration initiatives, and mental health interventions tailored to migrant labour populations to enhance psychosocial well-being and social connectedness.</p>