Social Connectedness Predicts Lower Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms over Time in Adolescents

Abstract

Although research has shown that loneliness in adolescents leads to higher rates of depressive symptoms, the presumed protective factor of social connectedness has not been studied in conjunction with these two constructs. The aim of the present study was to determine if social connectedness would predict lower loneliness and depressive symptoms over time in a large sample of adolescents. A large sample of adolescents (N = 1774; 9 -16 years at Time 1) were surveyed three times, separated by one year each, with self-report measures of social connectedness, loneliness, and depressive symptoms obtained. As expected, social connectedness was negatively associated with loneliness and depressive symptoms concurrently and longitudinally. Contrary to prediction, social connectedness did not function as a buffer between loneliness and depressive symptoms over time. However, consistent with prediction, a significant longitudinal mediation pattern was obtained over the three years: the effect of social connectedness on depressive symptoms was mediated by loneliness. Social connectedness at T1 predicted a reduction in loneliness at T2, which in turn predicted a reduction in depressive symptoms at T3. Moderation analyses of this mediation pattern suggested that this obtained mediation result was obtained for males, but not females, and obtained for older adolescents, but not for younger adolescents. The results are congruent with the view that social connectedness exerts an effective protective influence on adolescents against loneliness and depressive symptoms.

Longitudinal associations between family identification, loneliness, depression, and sleep quality

“…The results are also consistent with the Social Cure perspective (Jetten et al, 2012). The present study replicates the previously established negative relationship between group identification and loneliness (e.g., Haslam et al, 2016;Jose & Lim, 2014) and between group identification and depression (e.g., Cruwys et al, 2014), but extends this by showing evidence of serial mediation between these variables: Family identification is a negative predictor of loneliness, which is in turn a positive predictor of depression. Moreover, the model presented in the present study further extends the Social Cure literature by showing that, in turn, depression is a positive predictor of poor sleep quality/ insomnia severity.…”

“…For instance, in their investigation of the efficacy of the Social Cure-inspired Groups4Health intervention, Haslam, Cruwys, Halsam, Dingle, and Xue-Ling Chang (2016) showed that reductions in loneliness were driven by participants' increased identification with their Groups4Health support group. Additionally, Jose and Lim (2014) showed a negative relationship between group identification and loneliness over time in an adolescent sample.…”

“…Moreover, there is also evidence to support the idea that group identification predicts reductions in depressive symptomology: For instance, as well as Haslam et al (2016) and Jose and Lim (2014) finding reductions in depression being driven by group identification in their studies mentioned above, Cruwys et al (2014) showed that interventions designed to increase group identification are successful at reducing depression in clinical and community settings.…”

Social connectedness, life satisfaction and school engagement: moderating role of ethnic minority status on resilience processes of Roma youth

“…Specifically, we are interested in the construct of connectedness. Connectedness has been observed to promote resilience in adolescents and has been associated with positive mental, physical, psychological and educational outcomes (Abubakar, van de vijver, Mazrui, Murugami, & Arasa, 2014;Dang, 2014;Jose & Lim, 2014). Among adolescents from highly marginalized community such as Roma, connectedness may be a salient source of resilience since it moderates the impact of exposure to adverse conditions.…”

“…The micro-system is made up of salient relationships such as parents, siblings, teachers and peers, whereas the macro-system is made up of institutions in the youth's life that he or she experiences on a day-to-day basis, such as family, school, and once neighborhood (Karcher et al, 2008). Social connectedness among adolescents has been linked to a host of youth outcomes including reduced problem behaviors, and better mental health outcomes (Abubakar et al, 2014;Crespo, Kielpikowski, Jose, & pryor, 2010;Jose & Lim, 2014). oberle, Schonert-Reichl, and Zumbo (2011) observed that ecological assets (i.e., school connectedness, perceived neighbourhood support, parental and positive peer relationship) significantly and positively predicted early adolescents' life satisfaction.…”