The relationship between loneliness and internalizing disorders among young adults: the mediating and moderating role of ego-resilience.

Journal: Frontiers in psychiatry

Volume: 15

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.

Abstract summary 

The relationship between loneliness and internalizing disorders has been well established in psychological research. This study aims to build on existing research by exploring how different components of loneliness-isolation, relational connectedness, and collective connectedness-interact with ego-resilience to influence anxiety, depression, and hopelessness.The study participants were young adults ( = 337) who completed the University of California-Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, Ego Resilience Scale, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale. A regression-based moderation and mediation analysis was used to investigate the relationships between the components of loneliness, ego-resilience, and internalizing disorders.The results of correlational analysis demonstrated that the zero-order correlations between the components of loneliness, isolation, relational connectedness, and collective connectedness, on the one hand, and internalizing disorders, on the other hand, were all significant. Mediation analyses found that ego-resilience partly mediated the relationships between relational connectedness and internalizing disorders, the relationships between collective connectedness and internalizing disorders, and the relationships between isolation and internalizing disorders. Further, moderation analyses found that ego-resilience moderated the relationships between collective connectedness and relational connectedness, respectively, and hopelessness.This study highlights the central role of ego-resilience in mediating the effects of different facets of loneliness on internalizing disorders. Understanding the mediating and moderating role of ego-resilience can inform therapeutic approaches and interventions aimed at reducing the impact of loneliness on mental health.

Authors & Co-authors:  Padmanabhanunni Anita A Pretorius Tyrone B TB

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Park C, Majeed A, Gill H, Tamura J, Ho RC, Mansur RB, et al. . The effect of loneliness on distinct health outcomes: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. (2020) 294:113514. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113514
Authors :  2
Identifiers
Doi : 1466173
SSN : 1664-0640
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
anxiety;depression;ego-resilience;hopelessness;internalizing disorders;loneliness
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
Switzerland