Loneliness and Attitudes Toward Aloneness in Adolescence: A Person-Centered Approach

Abstract

In adolescence, feeling lonely and dealing with time spent alone become particularly salient. The present study examined the co-occurrence of parent- and peer-related loneliness, and positive and negative attitudes toward aloneness, using cluster analysis. In three independent samples, covering about 1800 adolescents (61 % female), six meaningful groups were identified. These groups showed different associations with adolescents' self-esteem and personality, parental responsiveness and psychological control, and peer group functioning and friendships. An adaptive pattern of correlates was found for adolescents in three of the six groups, that is, the Indifference group (with rather low scores on the four constructs), the Moderate group (with moderate scores on the four constructs), and the Negative Attitude Toward Aloneness group. A rather maladaptive pattern of correlates was found for adolescents in the three other groups, that is, the Peer-Related Loneliness group, the Positive Attitude Toward Aloneness group, and the Parent-Related Loneliness group. More specifically, adolescents in the Peer-Related Loneliness and Positive Attitude Toward Aloneness groups may need assistance regarding their relations with their peers, whereas adolescents in the Parent-Related Loneliness group may need assistance regarding their relations with their parents. Implications of these findings for current understanding and optimal measurement of adolescents' loneliness and aloneness are discussed.

Knowing Who You Are for Not Feeling Lonely? A Longitudinal Study on Identity and Loneliness

“…On the one hand, adolescents strive to define their identity, critically considering their earlier identifications and searching for commitments that fit with their aspirations and goals (Erikson, ). On the other hand, they often experience loneliness, which may occur as a result of a struggle to find a balance between connectedness and independence, which are both central developmental tasks in this phase of life (Larson, Richards, Moneta, Holmbeck, & Duckett, ; Maes, Vanhalst, Spithoven, Van den Noortgate, & Goossens, ). How are these two pervasive aspects of adolescence developmentally related?…”

“…In contrast, aloneness or solitude is a tension‐free state when person can be self‐sufficiently alone, and in which productive work or even creativity can occur (Holmes, ; Larson, ). In this study, we considered loneliness specifically as an unpleasant experience, a feeling of lack and anxiety that occurs when adolescents perceive their social relationships to be deficient, either quantitatively or qualitatively (Holmes, ; Maes et al, ).…”

In‐session behaviours and adolescents' self‐concept and loneliness: A psychodrama process–outcome study

“…Adolescents' loneliness has been associated with numerous difficulties such as high aggression and low life satisfaction (Buelga, Musitu, Murgui, & Pons, 2008), depressive symptoms (Lasgaard, Goossens, & Elklit, 2011), social anxiety and suicidality (Gallagher, Prinstein, Simon, & Spirito, 2014), low self-concept (global, scholastic, social, physical, and behavioural conduct), low peer-nominated likability, low bullying behaviour but high victimization by others, and low friendship quantity and quality (Maes, Vanhalst, Spithoven, Van den Noortgate, & Goossens, 2016).…”

Measurement Invariance of the Adolescent Quality of Life-Mental Health Scale (AQOL-MHS) across Gender, Age and Treatment Context

“…If items are not interpreted the same way, then conventional methods of summing or averaging item responses can lead to biases in comparisons of groups and individuals within groups. In recent years, the issue of measurement invariance has gained increasing interest (Ang et al 2016; Chung et al 2016; Maes et al 2016). …”