Loneliness in social relationships: Mapping the nomological network of loneliness with key conceptual domains and theoretical constructs

Frederick Anyan,Odin Hjemdal

doi:10.1177/02654075211033035

Abstract

To expand evidence for the nature and related mechanisms underlying loneliness measured by Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S), several hypotheses were developed and tested to map the nomological network of loneliness. Tests included examining the structure of the multidimensional experiences of loneliness, concurrent and prospective relations between loneliness, sociodemographic variables, worry, rumination, metacognition, symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study also sought to determine how resilience is involved in the protection against loneliness and depressive symptoms. Four hundred and eighty-two students with a mean age of 25.84 years ( SD = 5.74) participated ( N = 482; 59% females). Structural and temporal stability analyses supported the multidimensional experiences of loneliness, including family, romantic and social loneliness. Psychological network analysis identified especially strong connections (i.e., edges) between indicators belonging to loneliness in family and social relationships. At the general level, older participants and those who were single reported more loneliness. Loneliness was concurrently and prospectively associated with worry, rumination and metacognitions and predicted vulnerabilities in levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. At follow-up, the effect of loneliness on depressive symptoms was lower when scoring high on resilience. Interventions for loneliness may address improving family relationships and metacognitive processes underlying loneliness, which may in turn improve mental health. Interpersonal and intrapersonal protective factors involved in resilience may compensate for deficits in social relationships thereby buffering negative effects of loneliness on common mental health problems.

Highlights

Loneliness is defined as the discrepancy between desired and actual levels of social relationships (Cacioppo & Cacioppo, 2018; Perlman & Peplau, 1982)
This study aims to determine how resilience is involved in the protection against loneliness and depressive symptoms
Model fit across time was acceptable for the unconstrained configural (w2 1⁄4 664.760, df 1⁄4 373, p < .001; RMSEA 1⁄4 .057; CFI 1⁄4 .941), the constrained metric (w2 1⁄4 685.209, df 1⁄4 385, p < .001; RMSEA 1⁄4 .057; CFI 1⁄4 .939) and scalar (w2 1⁄4 698.113, df 1⁄4 397, p < .001; RMSEA 1⁄4 .056; CFI 1⁄4 .939) models with change in model fit indicating a trivial decrease in fit between configural and metric (DCFI 1⁄4 À.002; DRMSEA 1⁄4 .000), and between metric and scalar (DCFI 1⁄4 .000; DRMSEA 1⁄4 .002) models (Chen, 2007; Cheung & Rensvold, 2002)

Summary

Introduction

Loneliness is defined as the discrepancy between desired and actual levels of social relationships (Cacioppo & Cacioppo, 2018; Perlman & Peplau, 1982). As concluded in a meta-analysis by Masi et al (2011), interventions that focused on improving social skills through training, enhancing social support, or increasing opportunities for social contact have been ineffective. The social and health consequences of loneliness match those of many mental health problems, the origins and treatment of loneliness remains unclear (Masi et al, 2011). The evolutionary model of loneliness (Cacioppo & Hawkley, 2009; Cacioppo et al, 2006; Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2010) posits that perceived social isolation, or loneliness is a serious risk factor, which increases hypervigilance for social threat accompanied by physical and mental health consequences (e.g., stress, negative thinking and expectation of negative social information and interaction, anxiety and depression). This study aims to determine how resilience is involved in the protection against loneliness and depressive symptoms

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion