Determinants of Social Loneliness and Negative Coping Styles of the Socially Lonely

Almost everyone is affected by loneliness at some stage in their lives, and the long-term effects are dire, leading to depression, addiction, and suicide. To date, interventions have focused on external treatments with limited success. In this study, it is argued that underlying antecedents of social loneliness maintain negative behaviour, whereby it becomes chronic and problematic. Four intrinsic antecedents of social loneliness are examined (Secure and Insecure Attachment, Emotional Regulation Problems – Expressive Suppression, Unclear Self-Concept, and Neuroticism) along with negative (Ignoring and Withdrawing) behavioural coping styles. Ninety-six, mainly female (78%), psychology undergraduates were administered a battery of six questionnaires. In a regression model, Secure Attachment was most strongly (inversely) related to Social Loneliness (SL), explaining 34% of the variance. The remaining four latent variables, in addition to Withdrawal behavioural coping styles, were positively related to SL, and explained 77% of the total variance. Additionally, those higher in SL were more likely to utilise negative (Withdrawal) coping styles but not when controlling for recency effects (i.e., moving house and life changing events). In summary, Attachment type, Neuroticism, and to a lesser extent, Self-Concept Clarity, Expressive Suppression and Withdrawal coping styles may play an important role in averting or predicting SL. Behaviourally, those who are higher in Social Loneliness, particularly young adult females, may adopt less Withdrawal coping styles once a threshold of loneliness has been attained, with cognitive therapies crucial to avert Social Loneliness becoming chronic.