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Liu X, Yue J, Yang Y. Why So Lonely? The Direct and Indirect Associations between Developmental Trajectories of Fear of Negative Evaluation, Prosocial Behavior and Loneliness in Adolescence. J Youth Adolesc 2024; 53:1699-1710. [PMID: 38446286 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-024-01959-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Fear of negative evaluation and prosocial behavior have been identified as predictive factors influencing the development of loneliness in adolescence, representing typical factors in the cognitive and behavioral processes of re-affiliation. The elucidation of plausible direct and indirect pathways linking these pivotal factors to adolescents' loneliness need further exploration. This study aimed to investigate the direct and indirect relationships between the fear of negative evaluation, prosocial behavior, and adolescents' loneliness through the lens of developmental changes. A total of 533 adolescents (49.0% girls, Mage = 15.18 years, SD = 0.71) participated in this longitudinal study, assessed at three timepoints over a span of two years with 12-month intervals. Latent growth modeling uncovered direct associations between the developmental trajectories of both fear of negative evaluation and prosocial behavior with the developmental trajectory of adolescents' loneliness. The developmental trajectory of fear of negative evaluation exhibited an indirect association with the developmental trajectory of loneliness through the mediating role of prosocial behavior. These findings highlighted the roles of cognitive and behavioral re-affiliation processes, both independently and as mediators, in influencing adolescent loneliness, suggesting that interventions aimed at reducing fear of negative evaluation and promoting prosocial behavior could effectively mitigate adolescents' loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jiaying Yue
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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Zheng Y, Panayiotou M, Currie D, Yang K, Bagnall C, Qualter P, Inchley J. The Role of School Connectedness and Friend Contact in Adolescent Loneliness, and Implications for Physical Health. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2024; 55:851-860. [PMID: 36260256 PMCID: PMC11060972 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-022-01449-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigated how adolescents' loneliness relates to school connectedness, classmate support, teacher support, and offline and online communication with friends. We also examined the association between loneliness, physical health, and sleep. Data came from the Scottish Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC). The total sample was 2983 adolescents (F = 1479 [49.6%]) aged 14-17 years (M = 15.66, SD = 0.39) from 117 secondary schools in Scotland. Results showed that (1) higher teacher support, classmate support, and offline contact with friends predicted lower levels of loneliness, (2) online friendship engagement predicted higher levels of loneliness, and (3) poor health and sleep were positively associated with loneliness. The study offers new findings, highlighting the role played by classmates/peers and teachers in reducing loneliness. Supporting previous research, we also found associations between loneliness, poor sleep, and worse physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Zheng
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Margarita Panayiotou
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Dorothy Currie
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Keming Yang
- Department of Sociology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Charlotte Bagnall
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Joanna Inchley
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Nowland R, McNally L, Gregory P. Parents' use of digital technology for social connection during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study. Scand J Psychol 2024; 65:533-548. [PMID: 38258304 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) resulted in isolation due to social distancing rules and lockdowns, during which technology was used to enable families and friends to maintain contact. Despite loneliness being high in parents, little is known about which parents are more likely to experience loneliness and strategies to support them. METHOD This mixed-methods study examines which parents were lonely during the pandemic and how digital technologies were used to reduce loneliness and social isolation. Data were collected during the first UK lockdown from May to July 2020 via an online survey (N = 145) and follow-up interviews (n = 13). RESULTS Loneliness reported during lockdown was greater than retrospective reporting of loneliness for all respondents, but it was higher in single parents, those caring for children with specific needs, and those with lower household incomes before and during lockdown. Parents rapidly adapted to and experimented with using technology for social connection during the lockdown, which helped to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Video calling was found to be useful for making connections and enhancing social presence, but parents also experienced anxieties and difficulties with its use. There were mixed views about technology use; some were keen to continue using technology for socializing after the lockdown ended, but for others, it was only a temporary measure. CONCLUSION Although technology was invaluable during the pandemic, it was not a panacea, and the way parents used it was influenced by their approach to technology and existing social behaviors and networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Nowland
- School of Community Health and Midwifery, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
| | - Lara McNally
- School of Community Health and Midwifery, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
| | - Peggy Gregory
- School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Gracia-Liso R, Portella MJ, Pujals-Altés E, Puntí-Vidal J, Llorens M, Pàmias M, Jiménez MF, Aguirrezabala IM, Palao DJ. Comparing frequencies of adolescent suicide attempters pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic school terms. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:373. [PMID: 38760731 PMCID: PMC11100050 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05823-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic had and still have a major impact on adolescent mental health and consequently on suicidal behavior. However, few studies have investigated whether the pandemic has changed the patterns and the triggers of suicidality peaks in adolescents, e.g., seasonal patterns or family conflicts. We hypothesized that the pandemic modified suicidality rates: an increment of suicide attempts would be observed in the first semester of the academic year during COVID-19 pandemic compared to the same period of previous academic year; and the precipitating factors would be more related to social stressors during the pandemic school year. METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the precipitating factors, also including school-related factors and cognitive skills, of adolescent suicide attempters occurred in the first and second semesters of the year before the pandemic lockdown (study periods 1 and 2) and the year after (study periods 3 and 4). RESULTS The sample consisted of 85 adolescents aged between 12 and 17 recruited consecutively from March 2019 to March 2021 at emergency ward because of suicide attempt. Forty-eight adolescents (55.3% of the sample) were attended before the lockdown (pre-pandemic group) and 38 (44.7%) the year after. The results showed a higher proportion of female suicide attempters in period 4 (Sept 2020-Feb 2021) respect to period 3 (Mar 2020-Aug 2020), i.e., pandemic semesters compared with the increment observed between period 2 and 1 (prepandemic semesters; Fisher's exact test = 4.73; p = 0.026). The multinomial regression models showed a significant effect in the frequency of adolescents who attempted suicide (ratio χ2 = 15.19, p = 0.019), accounted by the differences between period 4 (Sept 2020-Feb 2021) and period 1 (Mar 2019-Aug 2019), with depressive symptoms being a significant contributing factor (Exp(b) = 0.93; p = 0.04). Additionally, social triggers and age were found to be significant risk factors for suicide attempts in the first semester of the pandemic academic year (period 4) compared to the same semester of the pre-pandemic year (period 2; Exp(b) = 0.16, p = 0.01, and Exp(b) = 1.88, p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS During the pandemic, the decrement between first and second semester of the number of females attempting suicide was more pronounced than in the prepandemic school year -though this findings lacked statistical power due to very limited sample size-. Change in the frequency of adolescent attempting suicide in the different school periods was associated with greater severity of depressive symptoms. Social relations in back-to-school after the lockdown were also associated with the number of adolescents attempting suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Gracia-Liso
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
| | - Maria J Portella
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain.
- Sant Pau Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), Barcelona, 08041, Spain.
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08041, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
| | - Elena Pujals-Altés
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
| | - Joaquim Puntí-Vidal
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
| | - Marta Llorens
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08950, Spain
| | - Montserrat Pàmias
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Marc Fradera Jiménez
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Itziar Montalvo Aguirrezabala
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Diego J Palao
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain
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Hunter SC, Seth R, Houghton S, Lawrence D, Zadow C, Rosenberg M, Wood L, Qualter P, Shilton T. Trajectories of Loneliness During Adolescence Predict Subsequent Symptoms of Depression and Positive Wellbeing. J Youth Adolesc 2024; 53:1078-1090. [PMID: 38129340 PMCID: PMC10980621 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01925-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to identify the outcomes of changes in loneliness during adolescence, and to consider this within a multidimensional framework of loneliness. This study considered the effects of different trajectories of change in Isolation Loneliness and in Friendship Loneliness upon both positive wellbeing and symptoms of depression. To achieve this, 1782 (43% female; 12.92 years old at the start of the study, SD = 1.60) young people took part in a longitudinal study with four data points across 2 years. Four Isolation Loneliness trajectories and five Friendship Loneliness trajectories were identified. Youth who experienced low levels of Isolation Loneliness that subsequently increased appear to be at particular risk for poor outcomes. Similarly, initially high levels of Friendship Loneliness that decreased rapidly, or which began at a low level and only increased marginally, seem to also be a risk. Loneliness is a multi-dimensional construct and its development during adolescence impacts upon young people's depressive symptomatology and positive mental wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon C Hunter
- Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, Scotland, UK.
- University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia.
| | - Rebecca Seth
- Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Stephen Houghton
- University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
- University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond Street, Glasgow, G1 1XQ, Scotland, UK
| | - David Lawrence
- Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Corinne Zadow
- University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Michael Rosenberg
- University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Lisa Wood
- University of Notre Dame, 23 High Street, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | - Pamela Qualter
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, England, UK
| | - Trevor Shilton
- Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
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Jong A, Odoi CM, Lau J, J.Hollocks M. Loneliness in Young People with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Atten Disord 2024; 28:1063-1081. [PMID: 38400533 PMCID: PMC11016212 DOI: 10.1177/10870547241229096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Many studies focus on problematic peer functioning in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but loneliness has been studied less. This paper examined (1) The loneliness level differences between young people (below 25 years old) with ADHD and those without ADHD, and (2) The association between loneliness and mental health difficulties in young people with ADHD. Six electronic databases were searched and 20 studies were included. A random effects meta-analysis was carried out in RStudio using the metafor package for the first question, while a narrative synthesis summarized the findings for the second question. The meta-analysis (n = 15) found that young people with ADHD reported significantly higher loneliness than those without ADHD, with a small-to-medium weighted pool effect (Hedges' g = 0.41) and high heterogeneity (I2 = 75.1%). For the second question (n = 8), associations between loneliness and mental health difficulties in ADHD was found (r = 0.05-0.68). Targeted research and interventions on loneliness in young people with ADHD is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Jong
- King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Clarissa Mary Odoi
- King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Jennifer Lau
- Queen Mary University of London Wolfson Institute of Population Health, London, UK
| | - Matthew J.Hollocks
- King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
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Demkowicz O, Panayiotou M, Qualter P, Humphrey N. Longitudinal relationships across emotional distress, perceived emotion regulation, and social connections during early adolescence: A developmental cascades investigation. Dev Psychopathol 2024; 36:562-577. [PMID: 36734229 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422001407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Early adolescence is a vulnerable period for emotional distress. Both emotion regulation and social connection to peers and family adults are understood to be associated with distress. However, existing longitudinal work has not explored these constructs jointly in a way that estimates their reciprocal relationships over adolescence. We present a three-wave random-intercepts cross-lagged panel model of reciprocal relationships between emotional distress, perceived emotion regulation, and social connections during early adolescence, among 15,864 participants from education settings in disadvantaged areas of England, over three annual waves (at ages 11/12, 12/13, and 13/14 years). Findings showed that emotional distress and perceived emotion regulation share a negative relationship over time, and that higher perceived emotion regulation predicts greater family connection in the initial stages of early adolescence (from age 11-12 to 12-13 years). Findings also indicated that connection to peers is positively associated with family connection, but also positively predicts slightly greater distress in the later stages of early adolescence (from age 12-13 to 13-14 years). Findings indicate a risk of negative spiral between emotional distress and perceived emotion regulation in early adolescence, and that social connection may not necessarily play the role we might expect in reducing distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Demkowicz
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, UK
| | | | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - Neil Humphrey
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, UK
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Osborne A, Aboagye RG, Olorunsaiye CZ, James PB, Bangura C, Seidu AA, Kangbai JB, Ahinkorah BO. Alcohol use among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e080222. [PMID: 38569692 PMCID: PMC10989102 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence of alcohol use and its associated factors among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. DESIGN Data for the study was sourced from the 2017 Sierra Leone Global School-Based Student Health Survey, a nationally representative survey conducted among in-school adolescents aged 10-19 years using a multistage sampling methodology. Percentages were used to present the prevalence of alcohol use among in-school adolescents. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors associated with alcohol use among in-school adolescents. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with their respective 95% confidence interval (CI). SETTING Sierra Leone. PARTICIPANTS A weighted sample of 1730 in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. OUTCOME MEASURE Current alcohol use. RESULTS The prevalence of alcohol use among in-school adolescents was 10.7% (7.3, 15.3). In-school adolescents in senior secondary schools were more likely to use alcohol compared with those in junior secondary school (aOR=2.13; 95% CI 1.37, 3.30). The odds of alcohol use was higher among in-school adolescents who were truant at school relative to those who were not (aOR=2.24; 95% CI 1.54, 3.26). Also, in-school adolescents who were bullied (aOR=1.85; 95% CI 1.24, 2.76), ever engaged in sexual intercourse (aOR=2.06; 95% CI 1.39, 3.06), and used marijuana (aOR=3.36; 95% CI 1.72, 6.53) were more likely to use alcohol compared with those who were not. However, in-school adolescents who reported that their parents understood their problems (aOR=0.52; 95% CI 0.33, 0.82) had a lower likelihood of consuming alcohol. CONCLUSION Our study has shown that alcohol use is prevalent among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. Grade level, experiences of being bullied, history of sexual intercourse, truancy at school, and previous use of marijuana were the factors influencing alcohol use among in-school adolescents. The findings emphasise the necessity of creating school-based health interventions in Sierra Leone that can effectively identify in-school adolescents potentially vulnerable to alcohol-related issues. Also, existing policies and programmes aimed at reducing alcohol use among in-school adolescents need to be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Gyan Aboagye
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Department of Family and Community Health, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | | | - Peter Bai James
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sierra Leone College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Abdul-Aziz Seidu
- Public Health & Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Kang JE, Graham-Engeland JE, Scott S, Smyth JM, Sliwinski MJ. The relationship between loneliness and the experiences of everyday stress and stressor-related emotion. Stress Health 2024; 40:e3294. [PMID: 37526522 PMCID: PMC10830881 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness influences how people experience and respond to stressors, which may account for its role as a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. The present study was motivated by emerging evidence that affective responses to minor daily events have long-term implications for health and well-being. Specifically, we evaluated how individual differences in loneliness relate to the frequency of everyday stressors and stressor-related negative emotions. A diverse community sample of 255 adults (age 25-65 years) completed ecological momentary assessments (EMA), during which they reported recent stressors and current negative affect (NA) five times a day for 14 days. Multilevel logistic analyses indicated that there was a quadratic association between loneliness and likelihood of reporting stressors, controlling for demographics, social isolation, depressive symptoms, and context (current activities, current location). Multilevel regression indicated that loneliness was unrelated to the concurrent effect of stressors on NA but significantly larger lagged stressor effects were observed among individuals in the low and high ranges of loneliness. These findings suggest that individuals with high levels of loneliness are more likely to experience everyday stressors and have prolonged emotional responses following stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee eun Kang
- Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
| | | | - Stacey Scott
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Joshua M. Smyth
- Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
| | - Martin J. Sliwinski
- Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
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10
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Madsen KR, Damsgaard MT, Petersen K, Qualter P, Holstein BE. Bullying at School, Cyberbullying, and Loneliness: National Representative Study of Adolescents in Denmark. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:414. [PMID: 38673326 PMCID: PMC11050631 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21040414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
AIMS The aim was to examine how loneliness was associated with bullying victimization at school and online. METHODS We used data from the Danish arm of the international Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study from 2022. The study population was a nationally representative sample of 11-15-year-olds who completed the internationally standardized HBSC questionnaire at school, n = 5382. Multilevel logistic regression was applied to study the associations between bullying victimization and loneliness. RESULTS The prevalence of reporting loneliness often or very often was 9.0%; 6.3% of the sample experienced habitual bullying victimization at school, and 4.8% incurred cyberbullying. There was a strong and graded association between loneliness and bullying victimization at school and cyberbullying. The associations were significant for boys and girls, and the association between exposure to bullying at school and loneliness was steeper for boys than girls. The gradients were steeper for physical bullying than for cyberbullying. Students exposed to habitual bullying in both contexts had an adjusted OR (95% CI) of 11.21 (6.99-17.98) for loneliness. CONCLUSION Exposure to bullying at school and cyberbullying are strongly associated with loneliness. It is important to reduce bullying at school and on the internet and to promote effective interventions to reduce continuing loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine Rich Madsen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 1455 Copenhagen, Denmark; (K.R.M.); (M.T.D.)
| | - Mogens Trab Damsgaard
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 1455 Copenhagen, Denmark; (K.R.M.); (M.T.D.)
| | | | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester M1 5AN, UK;
| | - Bjørn E. Holstein
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 1455 Copenhagen, Denmark; (K.R.M.); (M.T.D.)
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11
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Riddleston L, Shukla M, Lavi I, Saglio E, Fuhrmann D, Pandey R, Singh T, Qualter P, Lau JYF. Identifying characteristics of adolescents with persistent loneliness during COVID-19: A multi-country eight-wave longitudinal study. JCPP ADVANCES 2024; 4:e12206. [PMID: 38486960 PMCID: PMC10933679 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Elevated loneliness experiences characterise young people. While loneliness at this developmental juncture may emerge from age-typical upheaval in social relationships, there is little data on the extent to which young people experience high and persistent levels of loneliness, and importantly, who is most vulnerable to these experiences. Using the widespread social restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which precipitated loneliness in many, we aimed to examine adolescents' loneliness profiles across time and the demographic predictors (age, sex, and country) of more severe trajectories. Methods Participants aged 12-18 years, recruited into a multi-wave study (N = 1039) across three sites (UK, Israel, and India) completed a 3-item loneliness measure fortnightly across 8 timepoints during the pandemic. Results Latent class growth analysis suggested 5 distinct trajectories: (1) low stable (33%), (2) low increasing (19%), (3) moderate decreasing (17%), (4) moderate stable (23%), and (5) high increasing (8%). Females and older adolescents were more likely to experience persistently high loneliness. Conclusions These findings indicate a need for interventions to reduce loneliness in adolescents as we emerge from the pandemic, particularly for those groups identified as being at highest risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Riddleston
- Department of PsychologyKing’s College LondonInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN)LondonUK
| | | | - Iris Lavi
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of BathBathUK
- School of Social WorkUniversity of HaifaHaifaIsrael
| | - Eloise Saglio
- Department of PsychologyKing’s College LondonInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN)LondonUK
| | - Delia Fuhrmann
- Department of PsychologyKing’s College LondonInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN)LondonUK
| | - Rakesh Pandey
- Department of PsychologyBanaras Hindu UniversityVaranasiIndia
| | - Tushar Singh
- Department of PsychologyBanaras Hindu UniversityVaranasiIndia
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of EducationThe University of ManchesterSchool of Environment, Education and DevelopmentManchesterUK
| | - Jennifer Y. F. Lau
- Youth Resilience UnitCentre for Psychiatry and Mental HealthWolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonLondonUK
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12
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Alam I, Khayri E, Podger TAB, Aspinall C, Fuhrmann D, Lau JYF. A call for better research and resources for understanding and combatting youth loneliness: integrating the perspectives of young people and researchers. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:939-942. [PMID: 36577906 PMCID: PMC9797107 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-022-02125-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Alam
- Psychology Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ezekiel Khayri
- Psychology Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Caitlin Aspinall
- Youth Resilience Unit, Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Delia Fuhrmann
- Psychology Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jennifer Y F Lau
- Youth Resilience Unit, Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
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13
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Kiuru N, Salmela-Aro K, Laursen B, Vasalampi K, Beattie M, Tunkkari M, Junttila N. Profiles of Loneliness and Ostracism During Adolescence: Consequences, Antecedents, and Protective Factors. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2024:10.1007/s10578-024-01664-8. [PMID: 38337110 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-024-01664-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
This longitudinal study (N = 1078, 46% boys; 54% girls) examined profiles of loneliness and ostracism during adolescence and their consequences and antecedents. Longitudinal latent profiles analyses identified four distinct profiles: (1) High emotional loneliness (25%), High and increasing social loneliness (15%), High peer exclusion and high social impact (9%) and No peer problems (51%). Subsequent internalizing problems were typical for the High and increasing social loneliness profile and externalizing problems for the High emotional loneliness and High peer exclusion and high social impact profiles. Furthermore, effortful control, prosocial skills, and relationship quality with parents and teachers were highest in the No peer problems profile, whereas the High and increasing social loneliness profile had the lowest self-esteem and was characterized by low surgency/extraversion, high affiliativeness, and high negative affectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noona Kiuru
- Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
| | | | | | - Kati Vasalampi
- Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | | | - Mari Tunkkari
- Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Niina Junttila
- University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- University of Jyväskylä, Jyvaskyla, Finland
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14
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Wu P, Feng R, Zhang J. The relationship between loneliness and problematic social media usage in Chinese university students: a longitudinal study. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:13. [PMID: 38178215 PMCID: PMC10765645 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01498-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A significant number of cross-sectional studies have explored the correlation between loneliness and problematic social media use. However, the causal relationship between these two key variables remains controversial, and the developmental relationship over time is unclear. METHODS We conducted a one-year longitudinal study with 538 Chinese college students using questionnaires and employing cross-lagged and latent growth models to investigate the causal relationship and developmental dynamics between loneliness and problematic social media use. RESULTS The results indicate that (a) loneliness and problematic social media use mutually and positively influence each other, establishing a bidirectional causal relationship; (b) Chinese college students experience a gradual increase in levels of loneliness and problematic social media use during their time in college; and (c) the intercept and slope of loneliness significantly and positively affect the intercept and slope of problematic social media use, and conversely, the intercept and slope of problematic social media use significantly and positively influence the intercept and slope of loneliness. CONCLUSION These findings reveal the longitudinal relationship between loneliness and problematic social media use among Chinese college students and offer insights for researchers and educators to intervene in college students' loneliness and problematic social media use from a developmental perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peibo Wu
- Institute of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
- Zhong Yuan Institute of Science and Technology, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Feng
- Institute of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.
- Propaganda Department, Taizhou University, Taizhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jindan Zhang
- Institute of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
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15
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Chang CS, Wu CC, Chang LY, Chang HY. Associations between social loneliness trajectories and chronotype among adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:179-191. [PMID: 36752940 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02160-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Late chronotype during adolescence is a critical risk factor for poor physical and mental health among adolescents. While social loneliness is confirmed to negatively influence sleep behaviors, the long-term effect of social loneliness on chronotype remains unknown. This study aims to investigate whether social loneliness trajectories from middle childhood to adolescence are associated with chronotype in late adolescence and examine the potential sex differences in these associations. Data were obtained from 2398 adolescents who participated in the Child and Adolescent Behaviors in Long-Term Evolution project. Chronotype was calculated as the midpoint of sleep on free days adjusted for sleep debt. Group-based trajectory modeling and multiple linear regression were employed to establish social loneliness trajectories and determine their associations with chronotype. Social loneliness trajectories were significantly associated with chronotype and varied by sex. Specifically, boys following a high-decreasing trajectory had earlier chronotype during late adolescence than did those following a low-decreasing trajectory (B = - 0.07; p < 0.05). By contrast, girls following a low-to-moderate-increasing trajectory exhibited later chronotype than did those following a low-stable trajectory (B = 0.07; p < 0.01). Social loneliness trajectories, especially those displaying significant fluctuations over time, are critical indicators influencing chronotype among adolescents. Furthermore, these trajectories and their associations with chronotype display sex differences. These findings highlight the need for early interventions for psychological factors such as social loneliness to ensure that the late chronotype can be prevented. In addition, sex variations must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Shuan Chang
- Institute of Health Behaviors and Community Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Room 622, 6F, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chen Wu
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Ling-Yin Chang
- Institute of Health Behaviors and Community Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Room 622, 6F, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 100, Taiwan.
| | - Hsing-Yi Chang
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 35053, Taiwan.
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16
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Sundler AJ, Bergnehr D, Haffejee S, Iqbal H, Orellana MF, Vergara Del Solar A, Angeles SL, Faircloth C, Liu L, Mwanda A, Sepúlveda Galeas M, Simelane T, Twamley K, Darcy L. Adolescents' and young people's experiences of social relationships and health concerns during COVID-19. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2023; 18:2251236. [PMID: 37639471 PMCID: PMC10464546 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2023.2251236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To illuminate the meaning of social relationships and health concerns as experienced by adolescents and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A longitudinal qualitative study was conducted. Data reported from 172 adolescents and young people aged 12-24 years in five countries; Chile, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States collected from May 2020 to June 2021 were analysed via thematic analysis. RESULTS Adolescents and young peoples' experiences of social relationships and health concerns were described in seven themes: Family proximity, conflicts and frustration; difficulties and challenges related to limited living space; peer relations and maintaining friendship in times of social distancing; the importance of school as a place for interaction; vulnerability, emotional distress and uncertainty about the future; health concerns and sense of caring for others; and worries and concerns related to financial hardship. These reports show that the changes to everyday life that were introduced by public responses to the pandemic generated feelings of loneliness, vulnerability, and emotional distress, as well as increased sense of togetherness with family. CONCLUSIONS The everyday lives of adolescents and young people were restricted and affected more by the consequences of the pandemic than by the COVID-19 virus. These experiences had various impacts on well-being and mental health, where some individuals felt more exposed and vulnerable to emotional distress and loneliness than others. Family and peer relationships could be protective and support a sense of togetherness and belonging. Hence, social relationships are important to provide emotional support. Support for adolescents and young people should be tailored accordingly around social and emotional concerns, to encourage health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Disa Bergnehr
- Department of Pedagogy and Learning, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Sadiyya Haffejee
- Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Humera Iqbal
- Thomas Coram Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Lu Liu
- School of Education and Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Anita Mwanda
- Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Thandi Simelane
- Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Laura Darcy
- Department of Caring Science, University of Borås, Borås, Sweden
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17
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Kyron MJ, Houghton S, Lawrence D, Page AC, Hunter SC, Gunasekera S. A Short-Form Measure of Loneliness to Predict Depression Symptoms Among Adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023; 54:1760-1770. [PMID: 35622303 PMCID: PMC10581951 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-022-01370-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to produce a short-form measure of loneliness and assesses its prediction of depressive symptoms relative to a comprehensive measure. Western Australian adolescents completed the Friendship Related Loneliness and Isolation subscales of the Perth Aloneness Scale (PALs) three times over 18 months (T 1 n = 1538; T 2, n = 1683; T 3, n = 1406). Items were reduced while preserving predictability. Follow-up confirmatory factor analyses and predictive models with the reduced and full PALs were then tested. A reduced six-item scale (PALs-6) preserved the two-factor structure of the PALs and showed strong prediction of very elevated depressive symptoms (Sensitivity = 0.70, Specificity = 0.78, AUC = 0.81); it was less successful in predicting future symptoms (Sensitivity = 0.67, Specificity = 0.64, AUC = 0.74). The PALs-6 provides a brief measure of adolescent loneliness for clinicians and researchers that also predicts very elevated levels of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Kyron
- Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stephen Houghton
- Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
- Department of Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland.
| | - David Lawrence
- Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Andrew C Page
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Simon C Hunter
- Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Sashya Gunasekera
- Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
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18
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Parlikar N, Kvaløy K, Strand LB, Espnes GA, Moksnes UK. Loneliness in the Norwegian adolescent population: prevalence trends and relations to mental and self-rated health. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:895. [PMID: 38037032 PMCID: PMC10688064 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05404-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness has become a significant public health problem and should be addressed with more research over a broader period. This study investigates the variations in the prevalence of loneliness among a nationally representative study population of Norwegian adolescents over the last three decades and whether age, gender, self-rated health, and mental distress are associated with these changes. METHODS Adolescents aged 13-19 years completed the structured and validated questionnaires from the three waves of the Young-HUNT Study: 1995-1997, 2006-2008, and 2017-2019. Loneliness was measured with one item asking, 'Are you lonely?'. Hopkins Symptom Checklist-5 was used to measure mental distress (cut-off ≥ 2). Self-rated health was assessed by a single question 'How is your health at the moment?' Measures were provided by self-report. Descriptive analyses were stratified by age, gender, self-rated health, and mental distress. Linear-by-Linear association test across survey years was performed to test time trends of loneliness. Logistic regression was used to analyze the cross-sectional associations of self-rated health and mental distress with loneliness, adjusting for sociodemographic factors in all three waves of Young-HUNT. RESULTS Loneliness prevalence doubled from 5.9% in 1995/97 to 10.2% in 2017/19 in the total population sample. The highest loneliness prevalence and an increase from 8.9% in 1995/97 to 16.7% in 2017/19 was observed in girls of 16-19 years. Among mentally distressed adolescents, loneliness increased from 22.3% in 1995/97 to 32.8% in 2006/08 and lowered to 27% in 2017/19. Increasing loneliness prevalence was seen in those with poor self-rated health, i.e., 14.6% in 1995-97 and 26.6% in 2017-19. Mental distress and poor self-rated health were associated with higher odds of loneliness in each wave (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The results highlight the increasing burden of loneliness in the Norwegian adolescent population, especially girls. Those with mental distress and poor self-rated health have a higher risk of experiencing loneliness. Thus, health-promoting upbringing environments for children and adolescents that support mutual affinity, social support, integration, and belongingness in adolescents' daily arenas are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayan Parlikar
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Kirsti Kvaløy
- HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway
- Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger, Norway
- Centre for Sami Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Linn Beate Strand
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Geir Arild Espnes
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Unni Karin Moksnes
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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19
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O'Brien A, Hamilton S, Humphrey N, Qualter P, Boehnke JR, Santos J, Demkowicz O, Panayiotou M, Thompson A, Lau J, Burke L, Lu Y. Examining the impact of a universal social and emotional learning intervention (Passport) on internalising symptoms and other outcomes among children, compared to the usual school curriculum: study protocol for a school-based cluster randomised trial. Trials 2023; 24:703. [PMID: 37915094 PMCID: PMC10621084 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07688-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND School-based universal social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions implemented during the transition to adolescence may be efficacious in preventing the development of mental health difficulties. This protocol describes a two-arm parallel cluster randomised controlled trial to investigate the impact of a universal SEL intervention (Passport, compared to usual provision) on internalising symptoms (primary outcome), emotion regulation, well-being, loneliness, social support, bullying, academic attainment, and health-related quality of life in English primary school pupils aged 9-11 years. A developer-led trial demonstrated the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of Passport; this will be the first independent trial. METHODS Sixty primary schools will be recruited across the Greater Manchester city region and surrounding areas, involving 2400 pupils aged 8-9 at baseline. Schools will be allocated to the intervention arm to implement Passport over 18 weekly sessions or to the control arm to implement the usual school curriculum. Random allocation will be at school level following completion of baseline measures, with minimisation to ensure balance across trial arms in school size and free school meal eligibility. Measures will be collected at baseline, post-intervention (12 months post-baseline), and at 12 months follow-up (24 months post-baseline). The primary outcome analysis (intervention effects on internalising symptoms at post-intervention) will comprise a two-level (school, child) hierarchical linear model, following the intention-to-treat principle. Additional analyses will be undertaken to assess intervention effects on secondary outcomes, maintenance effects for all outcomes, intervention compliance moderator effects, subgroup moderator effects, and mechanisms underpinning intervention effects on the primary outcome. A mixed-methods implementation and process evaluation will examine factors that influence implementation, and a health economic evaluation will assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. DISCUSSION Findings will provide educators with crucial knowledge of whether and how increasing emotion regulation through a universal intervention impacts internalising symptoms and a range of related outcomes. Findings will also inform policy related to the promotion of mental health among children and young people. If the intervention is found to be efficacious in reducing internalising symptoms and is also cost-effective, it may offer high potential as a preventative intervention for widespread implementation. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN12875599; registered on 24 November 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie O'Brien
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Suzanne Hamilton
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Neil Humphrey
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jan R Boehnke
- School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Joao Santos
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ola Demkowicz
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Alex Thompson
- The Manchester Centre for Health Economics, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jennifer Lau
- Youth Resilience Unit, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
| | - Lauren Burke
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Yizhuo Lu
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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20
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Reiter AMF, Hula A, Vanes L, Hauser TU, Kokorikou D, Goodyer IM, Fonagy P, Moutoussis M, Dolan RJ. Self-reported childhood family adversity is linked to an attenuated gain of trust during adolescence. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6920. [PMID: 37903767 PMCID: PMC10616102 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41531-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A longstanding proposal in developmental research is that childhood family experiences provide a template that shapes a capacity for trust-based social relationships. We leveraged longitudinal data from a cohort of healthy adolescents (n = 570, aged 14-25), which included decision-making and psychometric data, to characterise normative developmental trajectories of trust behaviour and inter-individual differences therein. Extending on previous cross-sectional findings from the same cohort, we show that a task-based measure of trust increases longitudinally from adolescence into young adulthood. Computational modelling suggests this is due to a decrease in social risk aversion. Self-reported family adversity attenuates this developmental gain in trust behaviour, and within our computational model, this relates to a higher 'irritability' parameter in those reporting greater adversity. Unconditional trust at measurement time point T1 predicts the longitudinal trajectory of self-reported peer relation quality, particularly so for those with higher family adversity, consistent with trust acting as a resilience factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M F Reiter
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, UK.
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK.
- Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Centre of Mental Health, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Department of Psychology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- CRC Cognitive Control, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Andreas Hula
- Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucy Vanes
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tobias U Hauser
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Danae Kokorikou
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ian M Goodyer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Fonagy
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Moutoussis
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Raymond J Dolan
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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21
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Heu LC. The Loneliness of the Odd One Out: How Deviations From Social Norms Can Help Explain Loneliness Across Cultures. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023:17456916231192485. [PMID: 37819246 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231192485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness is an important health risk, which is why it is important to understand what can cause persistent or severe loneliness. Previous research has identified numerous personal or relational risk factors for loneliness. Cultural predictors, however, have been considered less. The new framework of norm deviations and loneliness (NoDeL) proposes that social norms, which are defining features of culture, can help explain loneliness within and across cultural contexts. Specifically, people who deviate from social norms are suggested to be at an increased risk for feeling lonely because they are more likely to experience alienation, inauthenticity, lower self-worth, social rejection, relationship dissatisfaction, and/or unfulfilled relational needs. Given that social norms vary by social, geographical, and temporal context, they can furthermore be considered cultural moderators between individual-level risk factors and loneliness: Personal or relational characteristics, such as shyness or being single, may increase the risk for loneliness particularly if they do not fit social norms in a specific environment. Integrating previous quantitative and qualitative findings, I hence offer a framework (NoDeL) to predict loneliness and cultural differences in risk factors for it. Thus, the NoDeL framework may help prepare culture-sensitive interventions against loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luzia Cassis Heu
- Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University
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22
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Riddleston L, Bangura E, Gibson O, Qualter P, Lau JYF. Developing an interpretation bias modification training task for alleviating loneliness in young people. Behav Res Ther 2023; 168:104380. [PMID: 37541156 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Loneliness is common among young people and is associated with negative health outcomes. Because loneliness is associated with a bias for interpreting social situations as threatening, cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) training is a potential early intervention tool. We developed and delivered a single session of mental imagery enhanced digital CBM-I training, assessing feasibility, acceptability, and magnitude of change in interpretational style and loneliness. METHOD CBM-I training materials were developed using a co-creation approach with 18-25-year-olds with experience of loneliness. Another group of 18-25-year-olds with high loneliness received either online CBM-I (n = 29) or control (n = 27) training. RESULTS CBM-I training uptake and retention rates were 88% and 92%, respectively. Participants found the training acceptable. The CBM-I group showed a reduction in social threat interpretations (d = 0.77), an increase in social benign interpretations (d = 0.84), and a decrease in loneliness (d = 0.56). The control group showed a small reduction in social threat interpretations (d = 0.21), no change in social benign interpretations (d = 0.04), and an increase in loneliness (d = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS Interpretation biases relevant to youth loneliness may be modifiable, and CBM-I training could reduce feelings of loneliness. This informs psychological models of loneliness, and the development of CBM-I interventions targeting loneliness in young people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Olivia Gibson
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, UK.
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, UK.
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Akkuş K. Fear of Positive Evaluation and Loneliness: Mediating Role of Social Anxiety and Suppression. Psychol Rep 2023:332941231197154. [PMID: 37612839 DOI: 10.1177/00332941231197154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness is a commonly observed problem that is associated with several mental and physical health outcomes. Although research shows that fear of negative evaluation is related to loneliness, no study has examined the role of fear of positive evaluation (FPE) on loneliness. This study investigated the mediator role of social anxiety and suppression in the relationship between FPE and loneliness using an undergraduate sample (N = 467). The results show that FPE is positively associated with loneliness and that this relationship is mediated by social anxiety and suppression. This study highlights the importance of the FPE in understanding loneliness and can guide intervention programs for loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Akkuş
- Department of Psychology, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey
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24
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Zeytinoglu S, Morales S, Henderson HA, Fox NA. A Developmental Pathway from Early Inhibitory Control to Social Connectedness. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:805-817. [PMID: 36708411 PMCID: PMC10625848 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01023-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Social connections are critical for mental and physical health; however, the developmental pathways to children's social connectedness outcomes are not well understood. This study examined the pathways from children's inhibitory control at 4 years to two social connectedness outcomes - loneliness and friendship quality at age 10 - through behavioral problems at age 7. As part of a longitudinal study (N = 291, 54% girls), children's inhibitory control was assessed via a Go/No-Go task when children were 4 years old. Mothers reported on children's behavioral problems at ages 4 and 7 years. Children reported on their friendship quality and loneliness at ages 7 and 10 years. Greater inhibitory control at 4 years predicted lower behavioral problems at 7 years, which in turn predicted better friendship quality and lower loneliness at 10 years. Indirect effects from inhibitory control at 4 years to loneliness and friendship quality at 10 years via behavioral problems at 7 years were significant. Findings suggest that inhibitory control in early childhood may play a key role for the development of social connectedness in middle childhood via its impact on children's behavioral problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selin Zeytinoglu
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, 4716 Pontiac St., Suite 2104, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Santiago Morales
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Nathan A Fox
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, 4716 Pontiac St., Suite 2104, College Park, MD, USA
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Krammer I, Schrank B, Pollak I, Stiehl KA, Nater UM, Woodcock KA. Early adolescents' perspectives on factors that facilitate and hinder friendship development with peers at the time of school transition. J Sch Psychol 2023; 98:113-132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
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Goodfellow C, Willis M, Inchley J, Kharicha K, Leyland AH, Qualter P, Simpson S, Long E. Mental health and loneliness in Scottish schools: A multilevel analysis of data from the health behaviour in school-aged children study. BRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 93:608-625. [PMID: 36683467 PMCID: PMC10952245 DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent loneliness and poor mental health represent dual public health concerns. Yet, associations between loneliness and mental health, and critically, how these associations vary in school settings are less understood. AIMS Framed by social-ecological theory, we aimed to identify key predictors of adolescent mental health and examine school-level variation in the relationship between loneliness and mental health. SAMPLE Cross-sectional data on adolescents from the 2018 wave of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC) in Scotland were used (N = 5286). METHODS Mental health was measured as a composite variable containing items assessing nervousness, irritability, sleep difficulties and feeling low. Loneliness was measured via a single item assessing how often adolescents felt 'left out'. Multilevel models were used to identify social-ecological predictors of mental health, associations with loneliness and between-school variation. RESULTS Loneliness, as well as demographic, social and school factors, was found to be associated with mental health. Mental health varied across schools, with the between-school difference greater among adolescents with high levels of loneliness. Additionally, the negative effect of loneliness on mental health was stronger in schools with lower average mental health scores. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that schools can play an important role in shaping adolescent mental health. Our study uniquely identifies that school-based interventions targeting mental health may be especially necessary among lonely adolescents, and programmes aimed at tackling loneliness may be more beneficial in schools with poorer mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Goodfellow
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Malachi Willis
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Joanna Inchley
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Kalpa Kharicha
- Campaign to End Loneliness part of What Works Centre for WellbeingLondonUK
| | - Alastair H. Leyland
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of EducationUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Sharon Simpson
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Emily Long
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
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Jefferson R, Barreto M, Verity L, Qualter P. Loneliness During the School Years: How It Affects Learning and How Schools Can Help . THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 2023; 93:428-435. [PMID: 36861756 DOI: 10.1111/josh.13306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substantial evidence links loneliness to poor academic outcomes and poor employment prospects. Schools have been shown to be places that mitigate or aggravate loneliness, suggesting a need to consider how schools can better support youth experiencing loneliness. METHODS We conducted a narrative review on loneliness in childhood and adolescence to examine the literature on how loneliness changes over the school years and how it influences learning. We also examined whether there were increases in loneliness because of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated school closures, and whether schools can be places for loneliness interventions/prevention. FINDINGS Studies describe how loneliness becomes more prevalent during the adolescent years and why that is the case. Loneliness is associated with poor academic outcomes and poor health behaviors that impact learning or turn students away from education. Research shows that loneliness increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence suggests that creating positive social classroom environments, where teacher and classmate support are available, is crucial in combatting youth loneliness. CONCLUSIONS Adaptations to the school climate can be made to meet the needs of all students, reducing loneliness. Investigation of the impacts of school-based loneliness prevention/intervention is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Jefferson
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Lily Verity
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
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Matthews T, Qualter P, Bryan BT, Caspi A, Danese A, Moffitt TE, Odgers CL, Strange L, Arseneault L. The developmental course of loneliness in adolescence: Implications for mental health, educational attainment, and psychosocial functioning. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:537-546. [PMID: 35109947 PMCID: PMC9346093 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421001632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined patterns of stability and change in loneliness across adolescence. Data were drawn from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a UK population-representative cohort of 2,232 individuals born in 1994 and 1995. Loneliness was assessed when participants were aged 12 and 18. Loneliness showed modest stability across these ages (r = .25). Behavioral genetic modeling indicated that stability in loneliness was explained largely by genetic influences (66%), while change was explained by nonshared environmental effects (58%). Individuals who reported loneliness at both ages were broadly similar to individuals who only reported it at age 18, with both groups at elevated risk of mental health problems, physical health risk behaviors, and education and employment difficulties. Individuals who were lonely only at age 12 generally fared better; however, they were still more likely to finish school with lower qualifications. Positive family influences in childhood predicted reduced risk of loneliness at age 12, while negative peer experiences increased the risk. Together, the findings show that while early adolescent loneliness does not appear to exert a cumulative burden when it persists, it is nonetheless a risk for a range of concomitant impairments, some of which can endure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Matthews
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Bridget T. Bryan
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Avshalom Caspi
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andrea Danese
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- National and Specialist CAMHS Trauma and Anxiety Clinic, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Terrie E. Moffitt
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Candice L. Odgers
- Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University and Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lily Strange
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Louise Arseneault
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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Banerjee A, Kaur Chawla S, Kohli N. The 100 Top-Cited Studies on Loneliness: A Bibliometric Analysis. Cureus 2023; 15:e37246. [PMID: 37162789 PMCID: PMC10164348 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study explores characteristics of the top 100 most-cited articles on loneliness. A systematic search was carried out using the Thomson Reuters Web of Science Core Collection to collect studies on loneliness from inception to June 1, 2022. The initial search resulted in 6,250 search results, which included articles, book chapters, conference proceedings, editorials, and letters. Two authors independently screened the literature and extracted the data. The study supervisor removed any discrepancies. Top 100 papers (articles and reviews) on loneliness published in English were extracted. Data analysis and visualization were performed on Excel, Web of Science (WoS) Data Analyzer, and VOSviewer 1.6.16. The total number of citations of the 100 top-cited articles was 42,044, ranging from 203 to 2,201 per article. All of the studies were published from 1989 to 2021, and the years with the highest number of top-cited articles published were 2003 and 2008. Most publications were from the following journals: Computers in Human Behavior, Developmental Psychology, Psychological Science, Psychology, and Aging (n=4 each). The most cited article was titled "UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure" by Russell, DW, in the Journal of Personality Assessment. The most productive institute was the University of Chicago. The two most productive authors were Cacioppo, JT, and Hawkley, LC. Of the 100 top-cited publications, 87 were original articles and 13 were reviews. The top three WoS categories were psychology multidisciplinary, gerontology, and psychiatry. In total, 37 author keywords were elicited and further clubbed into eight distinct clusters. The study provides new insight into loneliness research, which may help doctors, researchers, and stakeholders achieve a more comprehensive understanding of trends and influential contributions to the field and highlight under-researched areas, which could be the basis for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Banerjee
- Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, IND
| | | | - Neena Kohli
- Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, IND
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Barrett-Young A, Ambler A, Cheyne K, Guiney H, Kokaua J, Tham YC, Williams MJA, Wilson GA, Wong TY, Poulton R. Childhood Social Isolation as a Predictor of Retinal Neuronal Thickness in Middle Age: A Lifecourse Birth Cohort Study. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:238-249. [PMID: 36800261 PMCID: PMC10073287 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated whether childhood social isolation was associated with retinal neural layer changes in adulthood, and whether this association was independent of other childhood or adulthood risk factors, including adult social isolation. METHODS Participants were members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a longitudinal population-based birth cohort from Aotearoa New Zealand ( n = 1037), born 1972 to 1973 and followed until age 45 years, with 94% of the living cohort still participating. Social isolation was recorded prospectively at ages 5, 7, 9, and 11 years, from teacher and parent report. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thicknesses were measured via optical coherence tomography at age 45 years. RESULTS Childhood social isolation was associated with thinner average RNFL ( B = -0.739, p = .02), nasal RNFL ( B = -1.118, p = .005), and inferior RNFL ( B = -1.524, p = .007), although only nasal RNFL remained significant after adjustment. These associations were not fully explained by other psychosocial or physical health risk factors in childhood or adulthood, nor were they mediated by adult loneliness or social support. CONCLUSIONS Childhood social isolation was an independent predictor of RNFL thickness in middle age. Highlighting prospective links between childhood psychosocial adversity and retinal neuronal measures will help to inform future research into the utility of retinal neuronal thickness as a biomarker for neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Barrett-Young
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Antony Ambler
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Kirsten Cheyne
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Hayley Guiney
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jesse Kokaua
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Va’a O Tautai—Centre for Pacific Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yih Chung Tham
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Graham A. Wilson
- Department of Medicine, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Tien Yin Wong
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Richie Poulton
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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31
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Alam I, Khayri E, Podger TAB, Aspinall C, Fuhrmann D, Lau JYF. A call for better research and resources for understanding and combatting youth loneliness: integrating the perspectives of young people and researchers. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 32:371-374. [PMID: 36652017 PMCID: PMC9846658 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-022-02127-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Alam
- Psychology Department, King's College London, London, England
| | - Ezekiel Khayri
- Psychology Department, King's College London, London, England
| | | | - Caitlin Aspinall
- Youth Resilience Unit, Queen Mary University of London, London, England
| | - Delia Fuhrmann
- Psychology Department, King's College London, London, England
| | - Jennifer Y F Lau
- Youth Resilience Unit, Queen Mary University of London, London, England.
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Wolska K, Creaven AM. Associations between transient and chronic loneliness, and depression, in the understanding society study. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 62:112-128. [PMID: 36239375 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Loneliness has a long-established link with depression; however, patterns of loneliness, specifically transient (short-term) and chronic loneliness (longer-term), have seldom been researched in terms of their associations with depression and psychiatric distress. We investigated whether chronic loneliness could predict higher levels of psychiatric distress and higher chance of depression diagnosis (via self-report) than transient and no loneliness. METHODS We used data from 18,999 participants in Waves 9 and 10 of the Understanding Society survey: a nationally representative study of adults in the United Kingdom. The study used a between-subjects, cross-sectional, design, where participants' scores on loneliness measures across two time points were combined to form patterns of loneliness, and participants were compared on their levels of psychiatric distress and depression diagnoses across the three loneliness groups: chronic loneliness (lonely at both time points), transient loneliness (lonely at one time point) and no loneliness. RESULTS Regression analyses revealed that patterns of loneliness predicted both the likelihood of participants reporting a history of depression diagnosis and participants' levels of psychiatric distress. The chronic loneliness group had the highest likelihood of self-reported depression diagnosis and had the highest levels of psychiatric distress, compared to both the transient and no loneliness groups. Transient loneliness, in turn, predicted higher likelihood of reporting a history of depression diagnosis and higher levels of psychiatric distress than the no loneliness group. CONCLUSIONS The study replicates and extends prior findings, suggesting that prolonged loneliness even over the course of one year is a risk factor for poorer mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Wolska
- Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Verhagen M, Derks M, Roelofs K, Maciejewski D. Behavioral inhibition, negative parenting, and social withdrawal: Longitudinal associations with loneliness during early, middle, and late adolescence. Child Dev 2023; 94:512-528. [PMID: 36449019 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent loneliness can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health, but there is limited understanding of its antecedents in infancy and childhood. A 20-year longitudinal, multi-informant, and multi-methods study (first data collection in 1998) was conducted to examine mechanisms underlying adolescent loneliness (N = 128, 52% boys, Mage_baseline = 1.23, SD = 0.02, 99% White, recruitment in Dutch urban, healthcare centers). Structural equation modeling showed that high infant behavioral inhibition (BI) was indirectly associated with high loneliness during adolescence via high childhood social withdrawal. This indirect effect was equally strong during early, middle, and late adolescence. Contrary to expectations, infant parenting did not moderate the relation between BI and social withdrawal. The results suggest a developmental cascade with infant BI showing long-lasting indirect effects on adolescent loneliness up to 20 years later via childhood social withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Verhagen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mare Derks
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Feller C, Ilen L, Eliez S, Schneider M. Characterizing Daily-Life Social Interactions in Adolescents and Young Adults with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Comparison Between Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:245-262. [PMID: 35018586 PMCID: PMC9889413 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05423-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Social impairments are common features of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) allowed access to daily-life information in order to explore the phenomenology of social interactions. 32 individuals with 22q11DS, 26 individuals with ASD and 44 typically developing peers (TD) aged 12-30 were assessed during 6 days 8 times a day using a mobile app. Participants with 22q11DS and ASD did not spend more time alone but showed distinct implication in the social sphere than TD. Distinct profiles emerged between the two conditions regarding the subjective experience of aloneness and the subjective experience of social interactions. This study highlights distinct social functioning profiles in daily-life in 22q11DS and ASD that points towards different therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Feller
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Clinical Psychology Unit for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 40, Boulevard du Pont-d’Arve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laura Ilen
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Clinical Psychology Unit for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 40, Boulevard du Pont-d’Arve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Eliez
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland ,grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maude Schneider
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Clinical Psychology Unit for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 40, Boulevard du Pont-d’Arve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Department of Neurosciences, Center for Contextual Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Xerxa Y, Rescorla LA, Shanahan L, Tiemeier H, Copeland WE. Childhood loneliness as a specific risk factor for adult psychiatric disorders. Psychol Med 2023; 53:227-235. [PMID: 34120674 PMCID: PMC9874978 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721001422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness is a major risk factor for both psychological disturbance and poor health outcomes in adults. This study aimed to assess whether childhood loneliness is associated with a long-term disruption in mental health that extends into adulthood. METHODS This study is based on the longitudinal, community-representative Great Smoky Mountains Study of 1420 participants. Participants were assessed with the structured Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment interview up to eight times in childhood (ages 9-16; 6674 observations; 1993-2000) for childhood loneliness, associated psychiatric comorbidities and childhood adversities. Participants were followed up four times in adulthood (ages 19, 21, 25, and 30; 4556 observations of 1334 participants; 1999-2015) with the structured Young Adult Psychiatric Assessment Interview for psychiatric anxiety, depression, and substance use outcomes. RESULTS Both self and parent-reported childhood loneliness were associated with adult self-reported anxiety and depressive outcomes. The associations remained significant when childhood adversities and psychiatric comorbidities were accounted for. There was no evidence for an association of childhood loneliness with adult substance use disorders. More associations were found between childhood loneliness and adult psychiatric symptoms than with adult diagnostic status. CONCLUSION Childhood loneliness is associated with anxiety and depressive disorders in young adults, suggesting that loneliness - even in childhood - might have long-term costs in terms of mental health. This study underscores the importance of intervening early to prevent loneliness and its sequelae over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yllza Xerxa
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA
| | | | - Lilly Shanahan
- Department of Psychology, Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - William E. Copeland
- Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA
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Katulis G, Kaniušonytė G, Laursen B. Positive classroom climate buffers against increases in loneliness arising from shyness, rejection sensitivity and emotional reactivity. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1081989. [PMID: 37032957 PMCID: PMC10076792 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1081989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Loneliness is detrimental to well-being, particularly during the transition into and early years of adolescence when peer relations are ascendant. Shy and emotionally sensitive youth, who often spend considerable time alone, have known vulnerabilities to loneliness. Studies of young children suggest that a supportive classroom context may mitigate adjustment risks, reducing victimization and improving a sense of belonging. Herein we extend this work to older students, testing the hypothesis that a positive classroom climate protects temperamentally vulnerable children (i.e., those who are shy, emotionally reactive, or sensitive to rejection) from escalating levels of loneliness across the course of a school year. A community sample of 540 (277 boys, 263 girls) Lithuanian students in grades 5-7 (10-14 years old) completed identical surveys twice, 4-5 months apart. Self-reports assessed shyness, emotional reactivity, and rejection sensitivity, as well as perceived positive classroom climate and loneliness. Path analyses indicated that longitudinal associations from shyness, emotional reactivity, and rejection sensitivity to increased loneliness were mitigated by positive classroom climate. In each case, temperamental vulnerability anticipated greater loneliness for youth reporting low but not high positive classroom climate. The results held after accounting for several potential confounding variables. The findings have practical implications, suggesting that scholars and practitioners redouble efforts to improve classroom support, particularly for temperamentally vulnerable children who are at elevated risk for solitude, loneliness, and attendant mental health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gintautas Katulis
- Institute of Psychology, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Goda Kaniušonytė
- Institute of Psychology, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Brett Laursen
- Institute of Psychology, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Brett Laursen,
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Hemberg J, Östman L, Korzhina Y, Groundstroem H, Nyström L, Nyman-Kurkiala P. Loneliness as experienced by adolescents and young adults: an explorative qualitative study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE AND YOUTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2022.2109422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Hemberg
- Department of Caring Sciences, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
| | - Lillemor Östman
- Childcare and Education Department, Luleå Municipality, Luleå Sweden
| | - Yulia Korzhina
- Department of Caring Sciences, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
| | | | - Lisbet Nyström
- Department of Caring Sciences, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
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Hosozawa M, Cable N, Yamasaki S, Ando S, Endo K, Usami S, Nakanishi M, Niimura J, Nakajima N, Baba K, Oikawa N, Stanyon D, Suzuki K, Miyashita M, Iso H, Hiraiwa-Hasegawa M, Kasai K, Nishida A. Predictors of chronic loneliness during adolescence: a population-based cohort study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2022; 16:107. [PMID: 36544216 PMCID: PMC9769463 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-022-00545-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent loneliness is a growing public health issue owing to its adverse health impact. Although adolescent loneliness is common, its trajectories can show distinct patterns over time. However, there is limited knowledge regarding their determinants, particularly for chronic loneliness. We aimed to determine the predictors of loneliness trajectories across early-to-mid adolescence and examine their association with later suicidality. METHODS Data were collected from 3165 participants from the population-based Tokyo Teen Cohort. Participants reported their loneliness at 10, 12, 14, and 16 years. Loneliness trajectories were identified using latent class growth analysis. We examined the predictive role of bullying victimization and parental psychological distress at age 10 via a multinomial logistic regression. Sociodemographic and child-related factors (i.e., chronic health conditions and cognitive delay) were included as covariates. The association between the trajectories, self-harm, and suicidal ideation by age 16 was investigated using Poisson regression. RESULTS Four trajectories were identified: "consistently low" (2448, 77.3%), "moderate-decreasing" (185, 5.8%), "moderate-increasing" (508, 16.1%), and "consistently high" (24, 0.8%). Taking "consistently low" as a reference, experiences of bullying victimization predicted all the remaining trajectories [adjusted relative risk ratio 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18-2.28 for "moderate-decreasing," 1.88, 1.52-2.33 for "moderate-increasing," and 4.57, 1.97-10.59 for "consistently high"]. Parental psychological distress predicted the "moderate-increasing" (1.84, 1.25-2.71) and "consistently high" (5.07, 1.78-14.42) trajectories. The "consistently high" trajectory showed the greatest risk for self-harm and suicidal ideation (adjusted relative risk ratio 6.01, 95% CI 4.40-8.22; 2.48, 1.82-3.37, respectively); however, the "moderate-increasing" and "moderate-decreasing" trajectories were also at increased risk (moderate-increasing: 2.71, 2.23-3.30 for self-harm, 1.93, 1.69-2.19 for suicidal ideation; moderate-decreasing: 2.49, 1.91-3.26 for self-harm, 1.59, 1.33-1.91 for suicidal ideation). CONCLUSIONS Bullying victimization and parental psychological distress at age 10 were independent determinants of increased and chronic loneliness trajectories across early-to-mid adolescence. Compared with "consistently low," all other loneliness trajectories were associated with an increased risk of adolescent suicidality. Interventions targeting adolescent loneliness should include approaches to mitigate bullying and parental psychological distress. These strategies may help prevent adolescent suicidality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Hosozawa
- Institute for Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan. .,Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Noriko Cable
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Syudo Yamasaki
- grid.272456.00000 0000 9343 3630Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Ando
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Endo
- grid.272456.00000 0000 9343 3630Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Usami
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XGraduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miharu Nakanishi
- grid.272456.00000 0000 9343 3630Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan ,grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Junko Niimura
- grid.272456.00000 0000 9343 3630Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naomi Nakajima
- grid.272456.00000 0000 9343 3630Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Baba
- grid.419588.90000 0001 0318 6320Graduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke’s International University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nao Oikawa
- grid.258269.20000 0004 1762 2738Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daniel Stanyon
- grid.272456.00000 0000 9343 3630Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Suzuki
- grid.263518.b0000 0001 1507 4692Department of Community Mental Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Miyashita
- grid.272456.00000 0000 9343 3630Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Iso
- grid.45203.300000 0004 0489 0290Institute for Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655 Japan ,grid.136593.b0000 0004 0373 3971Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mariko Hiraiwa-Hasegawa
- grid.275033.00000 0004 1763 208XDepartment of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, The Graduate University for the Advanced Studies, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Kasai
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan ,grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XThe International Research Center for Neurointelligence, The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nishida
- grid.272456.00000 0000 9343 3630Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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The development of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for chronic loneliness in children and young people: Protocol for a single-case experimental design. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278746. [PMID: 36490292 PMCID: PMC9733892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Loneliness is a significant problem for young people and is associated with a range of physical and mental health difficulties. Meta-analyses have identified that interventions aimed at young people who report loneliness as their primary problem are lacking within the literature. In adults, the most effective interventions for loneliness are those which target the underlying maladaptive social cognitions. Therefore, we have developed a modular Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) intervention for children and young people. The aim of this study is to conduct a multiple baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) to assess the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of this intervention. In total 6-8 11-18-year-olds and their families will be recruited. The design consists of AB+ post-intervention, where A is the baseline phase, B is the intervention phase and then a post-intervention phase. Participants will complete a baseline assessment, before being randomised to one of four different baseline lengths (12 days, 19 days, 26 days or 33 days). Participants will then complete an average of 12 sessions of CBT, with the aim being to reduce their feelings of loneliness. Participants will then complete a 12-day post-intervention phase. Participant loneliness will be repeatedly assessed throughout the three phases of the intervention using the Three-item Loneliness Scale, which will be the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will be reliable and clinically meaningful change on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Feasibility and participant satisfaction will also be assessed and reported. Trial registration: ClinicalTrails.gov trial registration number: NCT05149963 (Date registered: 07.12.2021). https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05149963?term=cbt&cond=loneliness&draw=2&rank=1.
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Adaptación y validación argentina de la Cross Cultural Children Trust Beliefs Scale. ACTA COLOMBIANA DE PSICOLOGIA 2022. [DOI: 10.14718/acp.2023.26.1.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
El estudio de la confianza interpersonal es crucial para el desarrollo psicosocial humano. Se ha observado que, durantela niñez, favorece el comportamiento moral y prosocial, los vínculos de amistad, la competencia social, la experienciade emociones positivas y el rendimiento académico, entre otros aspectos. El presente trabajo tuvo por objetivo adaptar yvalidar la Cross Cultural Children Trust Beliefs Scale (ccctbs), a fin de poder evaluar este constructo en población argentina. La muestra incluyó 348 niños (51.2% mujeres; 48.8% varones), de entre 8 y 12 años de edad (m = 10.58; de = 1.31),quienes completaron la ccctbs y una escala de apego. Se consiguió una versión conceptual y semánticamente equivalentea la original, con buenas propiedades psicométricas. La escala argentina conserva el mismo número de ítems y replica elmodelo operacional de partida, constituido por tres bases principales de la confianza: fiabilidad (α = .76; ω = .80), confianzaemocional (α = .72; ω = .78) y honestidad (α = .78; ω = .83). Las puntuaciones de la ccctbs correlacionaron positiva ysignificativamente con la medida de apego seguro, lo que aporta evidencias de su validez nomológica.
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Berberian S, Patock-Peckham JA, Guarino K, Gupta T, Sanabria F, Infurna F. Does loneliness before the age of twelve indirectly affect impaired control over drinking, alcohol use, and problems through perceived stress? Addict Behav Rep 2022; 16:100448. [PMID: 35875348 PMCID: PMC9301507 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Loneliness is the pain of feeling socially isolated from others (Russell et al., 1980). The Stress-Dampening Hypothesis (Marlatt, 1987; Sayette, 1993; Sher, 1987) posits that individuals drink to alleviate negative affect. To date, it has not been determined whether loneliness experienced as a child can indirectly influence at-risk patterns of alcohol use through the mediating mechanism of stress and impaired control. Impaired control over alcohol use (IC) is the difficulty adhering to one's own self-proscribed limits on drinking behaviors (Heather et al., 1993). Impaired control is an at-risk pattern of use that is particularly relevant to emerging adults. Methods: We examined the direct and indirect relationships between childhood loneliness, stress, IC, and alcohol-related problems with a structural equation model. In a college student sample, we utilized a (k = 20,000) bootstrap technique and a model indirect command in Mplus to examine potential mediational pathways. Cisgender sex was included as a covariate. Results: Loneliness was directly linked to stress as well as to alcohol-related problems. Higher levels of loneliness were indirectly linked to both more alcohol use and alcohol-related problems through more stress and in turn, more impaired control over drinking. Conclusions: The current study is consistent with the Stress Dampening Hypothesis (Marlatt, 1987; Sayette, 1993; Sher, 1987). Our findings suggest that therapeutic interventions combating loneliness in childhood may disrupt the stress-dampening pathway to dysregulated alcohol use in emerging adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Berberian
- Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA
| | - J A Patock-Peckham
- Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA
| | - K Guarino
- Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA
| | - T Gupta
- Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA
| | - F Sanabria
- Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA
| | - F Infurna
- Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA
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Lin WH, Chiao C. Relationship between adverse childhood experiences and problematic internet use among young adults: The role of the feeling of loneliness trajectory. J Behav Addict 2022; 11:1080-1091. [PMID: 36251450 PMCID: PMC9881662 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2022.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS Given problematic Internet usage's (PIU) negative impact on individual health, this study evaluates how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect young adults' PIU and the possible underlying mechanism of the "feeling of loneliness" (FOL) trajectory. METHODS Analyzing a retrospective cohort sample from the Taiwan Youth Project, 2,393 adolescents were interviewed from the average ages of 14-28. We constructed ACE in 2000 using six categories (e.g., abuse and low family socioeconomic status) and 5-item PIU in 2017 from Chen's Internet Addiction Scale. FOL trajectories measured eight times, at average ages 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28 years-old. RESULTS Overall, 12.65% of the participants did not have ACEs, and 12.78% exhibited PIU. FOL trajectory analyses yielded three groups: "constant low" (reference group: 53.25%); "moderate decline" (36.81%); and "increasing" (9.94%). Regression models showed a dose-response association between ACE and young adults' PIU (adjusted odds ratio = 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.23) and the two risky loneliness groups (moderate decline: relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.32-1.54; increasing: RRR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.37-1.71). Structural equation modeling further found that ACEs increase young adults' risk of being in the increasing group, and consequently, the risk of PIU. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that ACE may be associated with 1) adults' PIU, 2) FOL from adolescence to emerging adulthood, and 3) young adults' PIU through its association with FOL trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hsu Lin
- Institute of Health and Welfare, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi Chiao
- Institute of Health and Welfare, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan,Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan,Corresponding author. E-mail:
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Tarsitani L, Pinucci I, Tedeschi F, Patanè M, Papola D, Palantza C, Acarturk C, Björkenstam E, Bryant R, Burchert S, Davisse-Paturet C, Díaz-García A, Farrel R, Fuhr DC, Hall BJ, Huizink AC, Lam AIF, Kurt G, Leijen I, Mittendorfer-Rutz E, Morina N, Panter-Brick C, Purba FD, Quero S, Seedat S, Setyowibowo H, van der Waerden J, Pasquini M, Sijbrandij M, Barbui C. Resilience of people with chronic medical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 1-year longitudinal prospective survey. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:633. [PMID: 36183067 PMCID: PMC9525930 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04265-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Individuals with chronic medical conditions are considered highly exposed to COVID-19 pandemic stress, but emerging evidence is demonstrating that resilience is common even among them. We aimed at identifying sustained resilient outcomes and their predictors in chronically ill people during the first year of the pandemic. METHODS This international 4-wave 1-year longitudinal online survey included items on socio-demographic characteristics, economic and living situation, lifestyle and habits, pandemic-related issues, and history of mental disorders. Adherence to and approval of imposed restrictions, trust in governments and in scientific community during the pandemic were also investigated. The following tools were administered: the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, the PTSD Checklist DSM-5, the Oslo Social Support Scale, the Padua Inventory, and the Portrait Values Questionnaire. RESULTS One thousand fifty-two individuals reporting a chronic condition out of 8011 total participants from 13 countries were included in the study, and 965 had data available for the final model. The estimated probability of being "sustained-resilient" was 34%. Older male individuals, participants employed before and during the pandemic or with perceived social support were more likely to belong to the sustained-resilience group. Loneliness, a previous mental disorder, high hedonism, fear of COVID-19 contamination, concern for the health of loved ones, and non-approving pandemic restrictions were predictors of not-resilient outcomes in our sample. CONCLUSIONS We found similarities and differences from established predictors of resilience and identified some new ones specific to pandemics. Further investigation is warranted and could inform the design of resilience-building interventions in people with chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Tarsitani
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Irene Pinucci
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Federico Tedeschi
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Martina Patanè
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Davide Papola
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Christina Palantza
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ceren Acarturk
- Department of Psychology, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Emma Björkenstam
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 3, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Richard Bryant
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sebastian Burchert
- Department of Education and Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Amanda Díaz-García
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza (Teruel), Teruel, Spain
| | - Rachel Farrel
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Daniela C Fuhr
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Tavistock Place, London, UK
| | - Brian J Hall
- Center for Global Health Equity, NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anja C Huizink
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Agnes Iok Fong Lam
- Centre for Macau Studies, University of Macau, Macau, SAR, People's Republic of China
- Department of Communications, University of Macau, Macau, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Gülşah Kurt
- Department of Psychology, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ingmar Leijen
- Department of Marketing, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 3, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Naser Morina
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Catherine Panter-Brick
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- Jackson School for Global Affairs, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | | | - Soledad Quero
- Department of Basic, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
- CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Hari Setyowibowo
- Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor, Indonesia
| | - Judith van der Waerden
- INSERM U1136, Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Social Epidemiology Research Team, Paris, France
| | - Massimo Pasquini
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Corrado Barbui
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Sachs AL, Coringrato E, Sprague N, Turbyfill A, Tillema S, Litt J. Rationale, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Meeting in Nature Together (MINT) Program: A Novel Nature-Based Social Intervention for Loneliness Reduction with Teen Parents and Their Peers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11059. [PMID: 36078775 PMCID: PMC9518349 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191711059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recently, there has been an increase in feelings of loneliness and mental health conditions among adolescents. Within this population, parenting teens are at an increased risk for these conditions. Outdoor experiences are shown to be an antidote to loneliness and a way to promote social connectedness by amplifying the processes for supporting social relationships. In 2020-2021, we piloted the 8-week Meeting in Nature Together program (MINT) at a charter school for pregnant and parenting teenagers in Colorado, USA. MINT aimed to promote relatedness and nature connection for students ages 14 to 19. MINT included online and in-person group meetings with educational content, creative activities, discussion, park excursions, mindfulness activities, journaling, and nature photography. Here, we ask, can a school-level nature-based social intervention reduce loneliness among pregnant and parenting teens by promoting and sustaining social connections? How acceptable is MINT to participants? Methods included audiovisual recording transcriptions, surveys, and observation field notes. Results suggest that MINT fostered social connections through a tailored nature-based intervention delivered to a typically isolated community in culturally sensitive, developmentally appropriate ways. MINT proved feasible and effective as participants reported high levels of satisfaction and interest in continuing to engage in activities promoted in MINT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashby Lavelle Sachs
- Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Eva Coringrato
- Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Nadav Sprague
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Angela Turbyfill
- Young Mother’s Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Sarah Tillema
- Young Mother’s Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jill Litt
- Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona 08003, Spain
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Maleku A, Kim YK, Kirsch J, Um MY, Haran H, Yu M, Moon SS. The hidden minority: Discrimination and mental health among international students in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e2419-e2432. [PMID: 34921449 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
International students in the US occupy a precarious position at the intersection of immigration policy and global education mobility, one made more challenging by the disparate impact of COVID-19 on college students' mental health. Few studies, however, have explored the pandemic's effects on mental well-being among the international student population in the US. Our study aims to provide initial empirical evidence on the mental health status of these students, with a specific focus on discrimination, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. We propose a mediation framework and estimate the mediating effects of loneliness and anxiety in the relationships between discrimination and depression in a sample of US-based international students (N = 103). We collected cross-sectional data from July to August 2020, using a 50-item online survey instrument with three open-ended questions. Mediation analyses using PROCESS Macro were used to analyse quantitative data and thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Findings showed that higher levels of discrimination were significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness. Higher levels of loneliness were significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety, which in turn led to high levels of depressive symptoms. Our study contributes to understanding the needs and capacities of international students in the wake of COVID-19 and simultaneously provides pragmatic program and policy implications for inclusive higher education environments and the overall health and well-being of this crucial US student population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arati Maleku
- College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Youn Kyoung Kim
- School of Social Work, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Jaclyn Kirsch
- College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mee Young Um
- School of Social Work, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Hanna Haran
- College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mansoo Yu
- School of Social Work, Department of Public Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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Lyyra N, Junttila N, Tynjälä J, Villberg J, Välimaa R. Loneliness, subjective health complaints, and medicine use among Finnish adolescents 2006-2018. Scand J Public Health 2022; 50:1097-1104. [PMID: 36016473 DOI: 10.1177/14034948221117970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Loneliness is an important public health challenge for all ages. This study reports time trends of loneliness among adolescents over a 12-year period and analyses the strength of the associations between loneliness, health complaints, and medicine use. METHODS Data were derived from the cross-sectional Finnish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study conducted in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. The study population is based on a random sample of schools with 20,444 participants aged 11-15 years. The trends were analysed with a Mantel-Haenszel test, and the strength of the associations was evaluated by mixed-effects logistic and linear regressions. RESULTS An increasing prevalence in frequent loneliness (2006: 11%; 2018: 15%) was evident over the 12-year study period, especially in girls and 15-year-olds. Among all adolescents, loneliness was associated with a higher risk of recurrent health complaints and medicine use to treat the corresponding health issues, especially nervousness (odds ratio 5.8) and sleeping difficulties (odds ratio 7.6). CONCLUSIONS Adolescence is a period of higher risk of frequent loneliness and associated health complaints. In this study, loneliness was common among adolescence and an increasing trend of loneliness was observed between 2006 and 2018. Also, psychosomatic health complaints and medicine use were strongly associated with loneliness. Persistent loneliness is a significant health risk and failure to resolve loneliness before entering adulthood may imply significant concerns for future well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelli Lyyra
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Niina Junttila
- Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jorma Tynjälä
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jari Villberg
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Raili Välimaa
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Verity L, Yang K, Nowland R, Shankar A, Turnbull M, Qualter P. Loneliness From the Adolescent Perspective: A Qualitative Analysis of Conversations About Loneliness Between Adolescents and Childline Counselors. JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/07435584221111121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
There is limited qualitative research on the experience of loneliness in adolescence, meaning key facets of the loneliness experience that are important in adolescence may have been overlooked. The current study addresses that gap in the literature and explores how loneliness is experienced in the context of adolescence from the perspective of adolescents. About 67 online counseling conversations between Childline counselors and adolescents (ages 12–18 years; 70% females) who had contacted Childline to talk about loneliness were analyzed using Thematic Framework Analysis to establish commonalities and salient issues involved in adolescent experiences of loneliness. Young people considered loneliness to be an intense experience that negatively impacted their daily lives. Experiences of loneliness revolved around difficulties with peer relationships, but turmoil at home worsened those experiences. Young people often employed short-term coping strategies that distracted them from loneliness. Issues with trusting others and self-worth acted as barriers to seeking long-term help. Recommendations include (1) the training of teachers and parents to recognize and support young people experiencing loneliness and (2) further research to establish the coping strategies that are used by adolescents who successfully overcome loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Michelle Turnbull
- NSPCC, National Services Information Manager Responsible for Disseminating Statistics and Learning From Contacts to Childline and the NSPCC Helpline, London, UK
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Nishimura T, Murakami T, Sakurai S. Interpersonal predictors of loneliness in Japanese children: variable- and person-centered approaches. BMC Psychol 2022; 10:164. [PMID: 35768854 PMCID: PMC9245278 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-022-00853-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness in children has been a major topic of interest in both clinical and developmental psychology. Further studies to investigate predictors of loneliness are needed for educational practices. METHODS A total of 1088 late elementary school-aged children (48.81% boys, Mage = 10.35) participated in a 1-year longitudinal survey. We used hierarchical linear modeling and mover-stayer latent transition analysis. DISCUSSION Findings from the variable- and person- centered approaches suggested that less positive peer relations, higher victimization, and higher relational aggression are predictors of higher future loneliness. Meanwhile, both approaches did not reach an agreement concerning predictors to reduce loneliness. This result highlighted a utility of a combined approach and sounded an alarm for overreliance on the variable-centered approach dominating child research. CONCLUSION To protect young children from loneliness, it will be more beneficial to prevent the development of loneliness rather than to apply interventions to reduce loneliness once established. Preventive practices need to be implemented to protect children from loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Nishimura
- Faculty of Education, Fukuyama City University, Hiroshima, Fukuyama, Japan.
| | - Tatsuya Murakami
- Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shigeo Sakurai
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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Rudrum M, Houghton S, Glasgow K. Loneliness and depressive symptoms among Australian female boarding school students. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/01430343221107394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Loneliness in adolescence is a risk factor for the development and maintenance of a myriad of mental health conditions, especially among females. Adolescent females in boarding schools spend prolonged periods away from family and may therefore be more prone to experiencing loneliness and depression. Research into this significant issue is limited, however. The present study compared the levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms of 403, 13–17 year old adolescent females from a range of boarding and non-boarding secondary schools. Confirmatory Factor Analyses established the fit of the loneliness and depressive symptom measures. Multivariate Analysis of Variance revealed boarding school students scored significantly higher than non- boarding school students on levels of depressive symptoms and having a positive attitude to being alone. These differences remained significant when age was covaried. There were no differences in quality of friendships, feelings of isolation, and having a negative attitude to being alone. The implications of these findings for boarding schools are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Rudrum
- Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stephen Houghton
- Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ken Glasgow
- Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Bell K, McMillin K, Ethridge LE. Bereft and Left: The interplay between insecure attachment, isolation, and neurobiology. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2022.101020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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