The Association Between Self-Disclosure Patterns and Loneliness in Fourth Grade Children

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the association between self-disclosure patterns and loneliness in fourth grade children. Specifically, we aimed to explore the multidimensionality of self-disclosure and distinguish between social and emotional loneliness.Methods: The study included 514 fourth grade elementary school students residing in Seoul (male: 261). Latent profile analysis was used to distinguish different patterns of self-disclosure. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between each pattern and loneliness.Results: First, children's self-disclosure patterns in fourth grade were classified into three groups. The straightforward group was characterized by high levels of depth, and moderate levels of amount, accuracy, and positiveness. Whereas the sugarcoating group reported the highest levels of positiveness, and moderate levels of amount, accuracy, and depth. However, the passive group was characterized by low levels of amount and depth, moderate levels of accuracy, and slightly high levels of positiveness. Second, the passive group felt lonelier than the other two patterns of children, and the sugarcoating group experience less loneliness than the other two patterns of children. Despite the straightforward group's tendency to openly share their inner selves with others, they experienced a higher level of loneliness than the sugarcoating group.Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of examining children's self-disclosure patterns to alleviate their loneliness. Furthermore, children's self-disclosure can be classified into different patterns. The findings emphasized the necessity of developing intervention plans tailored to different self-disclosure patterns to effectively address children's feelings of loneliness.