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PubMed2005

Adolescents with chronic illnesses: school absenteeism, perceived peer aggression, and loneliness.

Frequent school absence is often cited as a risk factor for peer relationship problems in youngsters with chronic illnesses, but this assumption has not been subjected to quantitative empirical examination. This issue was examined in the present study by exploring the relationship between school absenteeism, peer aggression, and loneliness in adolescents with chronic illnesses. Forty-one adolescents with chronic illnesses completed a modified version of the Direct and Indirect Aggression Scale and the Asher Loneliness Scale. Details of school absences and hospitalizations were obtained from parents and school and hospital records. No evidence was found to support the notion that peer aggression and loneliness are related to absenteeism, but social aggression (for both boys and girls) and verbal aggression (more markedly for girls) were associated with loneliness. Of the group, 19% reported experiencing verbal aggression and 12% social aggression at least weekly; informal qualitative data suggesting that such aggression is often related to limited sporting ability and appearance. Interventions at both the individual and school community level are warranted.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2000

Genetic and environmental contributions to loneliness in children.

This report presents the results of the first behavioral genetic studies of children's loneliness. Data were collected using both an adoption design and a twin-sibling design. As part of the Colorado Adoption Project, 133 sibling pairs (69 biologically related pairs and 64 unrelated pairs in adoptive families) completed a general loneliness scale when they were 9, 10, 11, and 12 years old. As part of the San Diego Sibling Study, 142 sibling pairs (22 monozygotic twin, 40 dizygotic twin, and 80 full-sibling pairs) between the ages of 8 and 14 years old completed a scale assessing loneliness at school. Both studies showed significant heritability and nonshared environmental influences for children's loneliness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Differences in social support and loneliness in adolescents according to developmental stage and gender.

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in both perceived social support and loneliness according to the three stages of adolescent development (early, middle, and late), as determined by chronological age and gender. The sample consisted of 113 early adolescents, 106 middle adolescents, and 106 late adolescents. Data were collected in classroom settings. All participants responded to the PRQ85--Part II, A Social Support Measure; the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale; and a demographic data sheet. Results of the study, which used the two-way analysis of variance, indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in perceived social support or loneliness across the three stages of adolescence. Findings also indicated that girls reported statistically significantly higher levels of perceived social support than boys; however, there were no statistically significant gender differences in loneliness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Adolescent pregnancy and loneliness.

The number of adolescent pregnancies in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. Loneliness and adolescent sexuality, however, have not been previously studied. This descriptive study investigated the relationships of characterological and situational loneliness in childbearing adolescents. Related variables of shyness, self-esteem, perceived maternal and paternal expressiveness, and social support also were studied. The data were collected at multiple sites in Northern California using a convenience sample of adolescents ranging in age from 12 to 21 years: early (n = 11), middle (n = 22), and late (n = 24). Results of the analysis of variance and the Tukey-HSD indicated situational variables were more significant than characterological variables in understanding loneliness in early and middle adolescence. The characterological variables were not statistically significant. Using Pearson's correlation coefficient, significant relationships were found among and between variables. The findings suggest parental relationships were powerful in influencing the existence of loneliness as well as self-esteem, shyness, and social support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Peer relations, loneliness, and self-perceptions in school-aged children.

Recent studies have suggested that certain behavioural characteristics in children are closely associated with peer acceptance, and that children who are not accepted by peers are more lonely than other children. The present research examines a more comprehensive pattern of relationships. In addition to behavioural characteristics, peer acceptance, and feelings of loneliness and social dissatisfaction, the study includes self-perceptions of social competence, self-esteem, and goal orientation (defensive ego-involvement). A theoretical model is presented to analyse predictive relations. The model was tested on a sample of 8th grade children (N = 96). Teacher and peer assessments of behavioural characteristics (humour, externalising, internalising and prosocial behaviour) were applied. In general, results were consistent with the proposed model. Loneliness was predicted by behavioural characteristics and low peer acceptance, and strong negative paths were found from loneliness to self-esteem and perceived social competence. Self-perceptions were not predicted by peer acceptance, and few direct paths were found from behavioural characteristics to self-perceptions. Thus loneliness has a mediating position between behaviour and peer acceptance on the one hand and self-perceptions on the other hand. This indicates that children's self-perceptions are affected by their socio-emotional reactions to peer difficulties and not directly by low peer acceptance. Strong negative paths were found from self-esteem and perceived social competence to defensive ego-involvement, which suggests that negative self-perceptions may have adverse consequences for children's goal orientations. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Loneliness and associated violent antisocial behavior: analysis of the case reports of Jeffrey Dahmer and Dennis Nilsen.

It can be theorized that loneliness plays a significant role in the development and continuation of violent, antisocial attitudes and behavior. Analysis of case reports of two serial killers, Dennis Nilsen and Jeffrey Dahmer, indicate that there is evidence for such a link. In this article, a list of significant correlates of loneliness and antisocial behavior is presented. This may be useful for the assessment of possible dangerousness and in the development of prevention and intervention programs. Suggestions are made for the adequate treatment of loneliness and correlated violent, antisocial behavior. A need is recognized for more research into the psychosocial, emotional, neurobiological, cultural, and ethnic determinants of loneliness and their correlation to specific antisocial and/or criminal behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Loneliness correlates in advanced alcohol abusers. II. Clinical and psychological factors.

The current study was performed in order to extend a preceding correlational analysis of loneliness to clinical and psychological parameters in a sample of 95 alcohol abusers. The alcoholics were examined twice with an approximate interval fo two years. In the preceding analysis of social factors and needs, the lonely abuser appeared as discontented and somewhat passive in essential life-spheres. This pattern was highly confirmed in the current study. In the psychological part, life-dissatisfaction and indolence were especially pronounced by the lonely abusers. The association between loneliness and lack of self-esteem was also extraordinarily marked, while the relations to some neurotic-tinged parameters were at a more ordinary level. In the clinical psychiatric part of the study, a number of relations of medium degree confirmed the link to psychopathology. Achievements on the intellectual tests were nonrelated to loneliness, as were also most of the biochemical laboratory test results. The main conclusion was that loneliness primarily is a sensitive indicator of perceived quality of life and attitude to life as a whole.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Age and gender differences in and personality correlates of loneliness in different relationships.

This study examined age and gender differences in and personality correlates of loneliness in different relationships. Loneliness was measured in three groups of subjects (college men, college women, and elderly women) with the Differential Loneliness Scale which assesses dissatisfaction with four types of relationships (Family, Larger Groups, Friendships, and Romantic/Sexual). Age and gender differences were significant. Compared to elderly women, college women expressed more dissatisfaction with their Family and Large Group relationships. Compared to college women, elderly women expressed more dissatisfaction with their Friendships and Romantic/Sexual relationships. With regard to gender differences, college men expressed more dissatisfaction with Family, Large Group, and Friendship relationships than college women. For each subject group, dissatisfaction scores were correlated with health status, locus of control, social support, depression, and self-consciousness. Correlations varied with type of relationship as well as with age and gender. The group differences and the varying patterns of correlations support the use of a multidimensional approach to the study of loneliness. Results are discussed in terms of previous research and future investigations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The core of loneliness: lack of pleasurable engagement--more so than painful disconnection--predicts social impairment, depression onset, and recovery from depressive disorders among adolescents.

Following past work, we proposed that loneliness possesses a bidimensional structure, with dimensions corresponding to lack of pleasurable engagement and painful disconnection. Moreover, we hypothesized that the distinction between lack of pleasurable engagement and painful disconnection would emerge in confirmatory factor analyses, in the pattern of relations of each facet to social impairment, in differential risk for the development of depressive disorders, and in differential rates of recovery from depressive disorders. Data from the Oregon Adolescent Depression Project were used to address these issues. Adolescents from high schools in urban and rural Oregon completed interviews and questionnaires on psychiatric status, loneliness, social functioning, and so forth, at one point in time and then again at a second session approximately a year later. Consistent with predictions, we found that the proposed bidimensional structure of loneliness represented a good fit to the covariance structure of loneliness items; the relation of lack of pleasurable engagement to social impairment exceeded that between painful disconnection and social impairment; and lack of pleasurable engagement, but not painful disconnection, was significantly related (in the expected directions) to onset of and recovery from depressive disorders. We discuss theoretical and clinical implications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Assessing peer network and dyadic loneliness.

Describes the Peer Network and Dyadic Loneliness Scale (PNDLS), a new scale designed to assess simultaneously children's loneliness at multiple levels of peer relationships. Specifically, this scale measures loneliness associated with (a) lack of involvement in a social network and (b) the absence of a close dyadic friendship. Employing a sample of 209 5th-, 6th-, and 7th-grade boys and girls, the psychometric properties, interscale correlations, and preliminary validity data for the new scale are examined. Analyses revealed good internal consistency and a pattern of relationships with other loneliness, friendship quality, mutual best friendship, and sociometric social preference variables supporting the validity of the new scale.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Existential loneliness: a review of the concept, its psychosocial precipitants and psychotherapeutic implications for HIV-infected women.

While many of the most urgent psychological issues that women with HIV infection are forced to deal with are existential in nature, and therefore shared by humankind, the assault on their physical and psychological being may trigger these issues in large amounts and may overwhelm their defensive structure. Existential loneliness may be an important existential issue that arises for these women and needs to be given equal consideration alongside other forms of loneliness. In this paper, we review the concept of existential loneliness, discuss methods to measure the concept, delineate some central psychosocial precipitants of existential loneliness among HIV-infected women, and discuss psychotherapeutic implications. We conclude that incorporating an existential philosophical perspective into one's particular therapeutic stance may be especially appropriate with this population.

Existentialism↗
PubMed1988

Mothers' estimates of hearing family members' competence in sign language and the deaf child's loneliness.

This study examined the associations between mothers' estimates of both hearing family members' competence in sign language and their deaf child's loneliness. 32 mothers of children who functioned as deaf were asked to assess their hearing family members' competence in sign language and to complete the UCLA Loneliness Scale for an estimate of their deaf child's loneliness. Significant positive correlations were found among hearing family members' estimated competence in sign language; however, no significant correlations were found between hearing family members' estimated competence in sign language and their deaf child's estimated loneliness. These findings suggest that hearing members may contribute to each other's competence in sign language and may communicate with their deaf child through alternative methods rather than formal sign language.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Loneliness related to self-concept.

The Differential Loneliness Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale were given to 30 persons attending a mental growth group (test group) and 36 adult students of psychology (the control group). Ages of the subjects ranged from 19 to 45 years. Self-concept was measured by Fitts' Tennessee Self-concept Scale and scored using both Clinical and Counselling forms. The first group showed greater loneliness, lower scores on physical self, and higher scores on moral-ethical self than the controls, and also had significantly lower scores on the neurosis scale and the defensive positive scale. A trend towards social maladjustment and personality disordered behavior was observed. Shyness and the typical introverted character for many Finns are discussed in connection with loneliness, social maladjustment, and lack of social skills.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Reliability data for a Greek translation of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: comparisons with data from the USA.

A Greek translation of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale was internally reliable (alpha = .89), after eliminating Item 4, and significantly correlated with the English version (r = .94) for a sample of bilingual students. Weiss's distinction between social loneliness and emotional loneliness was also reliably identified in the Greek translation. Loneliness scores in Greece were significantly higher than in the USA. The translation seems to be sufficiently reliable to warrant further use with Greek individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Loneliness, perceived social support, and anxiety among Israeli adolescents.

This study was designed to investigate the variables of social support, loneliness, and anxiety among two groups, i.e., participants who identified with the label "I am a lonely person" (Lonely group; n = 37) and those who did not identify with this label (Not lonely group; n = 107). Based on the findings of a 1994 study of South Pacific participants, hypotheses were formulated and tested using the grouping variable. As expected, significant correlations for scores on loneliness with social support and with anxiety were noted. Also, as expected, there were significant differences between the two groups on social support, loneliness, and anxiety. While such results support earlier findings it appears the association of loneliness and perceived social support may be more complex than proposed earlier. For the lonely group anxiety is significantly correlated with a need to seek acceptance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Relations of perceived causes and the experience of loneliness.

Previous research yielded five factors which comprise the experience of loneliness, namely, Emotional distress, Social inadequacy and alienation, Growth and discovery. Interpersonal isolation, and Self-alienation. The perceived causes of loneliness were grouped into factors of Personal inadequacies, Developmental deficits, Unfulfilling intimate relationships, Relocation and significant separations, and Social marginality. Using principal components factor analysis, the relations of perceived causes and the various aspects of loneliness were examined for 295 men and 338 women. All five of the perceived causes appeared to contribute to experienced loneliness. While scores on Emotional distress were strongly related to all five factors of perceived causes, the other four factors were differentially related.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Loneliness and the life cycle.

Loneliness is a prevailing experience which every person has experienced. This subjective experience is influenced by one's personality and situational variables. In the present study, the influence of age and sex on the experience of loneliness were examined. 711 participants volunteered to answer an 82-item yes/no questionnaire on their loneliness experience and its meaning. Four age groups were compared: 106 youths (13-18 years old), 255 young adults (19-30 years old), 314 adults (31-58 years old), and 36 seniors (60-80 years old). Within and between sex comparisons indicated that loneliness is indeed affected by one's age and sex.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

Peer conflict avoidance: associations with loneliness, social anxiety, and social avoidance.

Failure to resolve peer conflict is associated with children's reports of loneliness, social anxiety, and social avoidance. Although these relationships are well established, researchers have not examined the association between the avoidance of peer conflict and various adjustment characteristics. The current study examined the association between avoidance of conflict and measures of loneliness, social anxiety, and social avoidance for 59 pupils in Grade 4 (31 boys and 28 girls) and 47 in Grade 8 (22 boys and 25 girls). Volunteers indicated that conflict avoidance based on autonomy, e.g., independence issues, and interpersonal issues, e.g., closeness and cohesion, was associated with scores on loneliness for boys and girls, respectively. Conflict avoidance for emotional and physical well-being and fear of punishment was associated with increased reports of loneliness and social anxiety for children in Grade 4.

Adolescent↗