Assessment and implications of aloneliness in Chinese children and early adolescents

The goal of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Solitude and Aloneliness Scale (SolAS) among primary and middle school children, as well as explore links between aloneliness, social withdrawal, and indices of well-being. Participants were N = 951 children (509 boys, 442 girls, Mage = 10.67 years, SD = 1.43 years) in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, who completed self-report assessments of aloneliness, social withdrawal, and indices of well-being. Among the results, the Chinese version of the SolAS displayed a single-factor solution with good psychometric properties and was associated with a wide range of negative psychological outcomes. Aloneliness was also found to be partially mediate relations between social withdrawal and children's well-being. Results are discussed in terms of the meaning and implications of aloneliness in Chinese children.