The attachment styles bases of loneliness and depression

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive role of attachment styles on loneliness and depression. The sample consisted of 652 (313 females; 339 males) university students. Data were collected by using the relationship scales questionnaire, UCLA-R loneliness scale, and Beck depression inventory. To analyze data, Pearson product-moment correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis was employed. Attachment styles were found to be significantly correlated to loneliness and depression. A significant relationship was also found between loneliness and depression. A significant effect of attachment styles on loneliness and depression was detected.

Does Loneliness Thrive in Relational Freedom or Restriction? The Culture-Loneliness Framework

“…Loneliness is thus a subjective experience that may or may not arise from the objective state of being alone (i.e., solitude). Indeed, although loneliness should be influenced by how many actual relationships or social interactions an individual has (i.e., more or less physical isolation; e.g., De Jong Gierveld, 2009;von Soest et al, 2018), it also results if an individual does not have individually fulfilling, high-quality, or responsive relationships (i.e., emotional isolation; Erozkan, 2011;Givertz et al, 2013;Hawkley et al, 2008;Weiss, 1973). Furthermore, it can result if an individual's own or cultural ideals about relationships remain unfulfilled (i.e., perceived isolation, resulting from perceived ideal-actual discrepancies regarding social relationships; Johnson & Mullins, 1987;Perlman & Peplau, 1981).…”

“…Most work on potential causes of loneliness has focused on individual and relational risk factors. These include, among others, being unmarried (Hansen & Slagsvold, 2015;Hawkley et al, 2008), living alone (Snell, 2017;Swader, 2019), genetic disposition (Matthews et al, 2016), introversion or neuroticism (Buecker et al, 2020), an insecure attachment style (Erozkan, 2011;Givertz et al, 2013), a small number or low quality of relationships (Hawkley et al, 2008;Shiovitz-Ezra & Leitsch, 2010), or few social interactions (e.g., De Jong Gierveld, 2009;von Soest et al, 2018). Although there is consensus that one can feel lonely whether one is alone or surrounded by others, most of these characteristics revolve around the extent to which individuals are or may become socially isolated.…”

“…If individuals get restricted in their freedom to choose whom they relate to or how they relate to others, this should undermine that they can leave low-quality or harmful social relationships (e.g., conflictual family relationships; and that they can establish responsive relationships (i.e., emotionally rewarding relationships of mutual understanding; Reis & Gable, 2015). Despite a lower risk of too few social contacts, individuals in more (versus less) restrictive cultures may hence be at a higher risk for loneliness because of less opportunities to establish a network of individually satisfying relationships (e.g., Erozkan, 2011;Givertz et al, 2013;Hawkley et al, 2008;Weiss, 1973).…”

The relationship between fear, loneliness, and depression among university students: A structural equation model

“…The results of the current study showed that depression had a signi cant positive effect on loneliness. Indeed, loneliness and depression were viewed in some studies as a highly interrelated set of problems (e.g., Adams etal, [32]; Aylaz et al,[28]; Erozkan, [29]; Ouellet & Joshi, [30]; Weeks et al, [31]. Depression could contribute to loneliness.…”

“…Several studies also reported empirical evidence that loneliness and depression often co-occur. Correlations between loneliness and depression range from .41 to .70 [28][29][30][31]. In addition, loneliness scores explained about 8% of the unique variance in depression scores, suggesting it is an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms [32].…”