Loneliness, Depressive Symptomatology, and Suicide Ideation in Adolescence: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses

Abstract

The paper presents the first known longitudinal study of the relationship between loneliness, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation in adolescence, in a stratified sample of high school students (Time 1 N = 1009; 57 % female; Time 2 N = 541; 60 % female). Cross-lagged structural equation modeling indicated that depressive symptoms led to more loneliness across time, whereas loneliness did not predict higher levels of depressive symptoms across time. Loneliness was found to be a correlate of depressive symptoms at the cross-sectional level, independent of gender, other demographic factors, multiple psychosocial variables, and social desirability. Loneliness did not predict suicide ideation over time or at the cross-sectional level, when controlling for depressive symptoms. Gender did not predict loneliness, depressive symptoms or suicide ideation across time. Future longitudinal studies of the relationship between loneliness, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation in adolescence should use more extensive designs.

Soledad, impulsividad, consumo de alcohol y su relación con suicidalidad en adolescentes

“…Así mismo, como se esperaba, de acuerdo con la literatura, la soledad, impulsividad y el consumo de alcohol se relacionó significativamente y en forma lineal directa con la suicidalidad en adolescentes 16,[23][24][25][26]30 . En relación con la soledad, futuros estudios longitudinales deberían indagar si dicha manifestación es correlato de otra condición psicopatoló-gica, por ejemplo de síntomas depresivos, o si actúa independientemente y se mantiene en el tiempo.…”

“…Escasos estudios han investigado la relación de la suicidalidad con otros factores relevantes en la adolescencia, tales como la soledad 16,27 . En adolescentes y jóvenes, se ha relacionado la soledad con ansiedad, síntomas depresivos, violencia y abuso de internet [28][29][30][31][32] . Dada la evidencia, aunque aún no suficientemente investigada, de que el consumo de alcohol, la impulsividad y la soledad se relacionan con conducta suicida en adolescentes, y considerando la relevancia de estas variables en la adolescencia, el presente estudio pretende evaluar un modelo teórico conformado por dichas variables para la predicción de la suicidalidad (ideas suicidas más intento de suicidio).…”

Advancing a Biopsychosocial and Contextual Model of Sleep in Adolescence: A Review and Introduction to the Special Issue

“…Indeed, adolescents are more likely to experience loneliness in early adolescence as opposed to late adolescence (Ladd and Ettekal 2013), which may accentuate the experience of social isolation (Laursen and Hartl 2013). Further, loneliness may contribute to increased depressive symptoms and social anxiety (Fontaine et al 2009;Lasgaard et al 2011;Storch et al 2003), which in turn may interfere with optimal sleep functioning. Given the importance of the peer group (and friendship in particular) in adolescence (Bukowski et al 2011;Collins and Steinberg 2008), peer victimization may contribute to increased daytime stress and/or an adolescent's feelings of loneliness.…”

Multiple Mediation of Loneliness and Negative Emotions in the Relationship between Adolescents’ Social Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

“…Santrock (2011) stated that adolescents who are rejected by their peers, with no close relationships and inadequate communication with friends, had increasing inclinations towards depression. Significant relationships between loneliness and depression were found in many studies (Hsu, Hailey & Range, 1987;Kim, 2001;Lasgaard, Goossens & Elklit, 2011;Rich & Scovel, 1987;Swami et al, 2007;Qualter, Brown, Munn & Rotenberg, 2010). According to the results of these studies in the relevant literature, lonely individuals are more likely to be depressed.…”