Four studies (total n = 469) examined correlates of loneliness in order to explore explanations for the persistence of loneliness among college students. Self-report and attitude scales, ratings of others following dyadic interactions, and self and other ratings at two points during an extended period of group interactions indicated that lonely students (a) rated themselves more negatively and reported deficits in social skills and self-concept, (b) rated specific others and people-in-general more negatively and were more alienated and externalized, (c) expected others to rate them negatively, but (d) in general were not differentially rated by others except in the initial phase of group interactions and by lonely others following dyadic interactions. Results suggested that loneliness may be perpetuated by its cognitive and affective concomitants, with some evidence for gender differences, whereas inconclusive evidence was found regarding responses of others to the lonely person.Loneliness is a distressing and common problem in which a person's network of interpersonal relationships is smaller or less satisfying than desired (Peplau & Perlman, 1979). One national survey indicated that 26% of the sample reported feeling lonely, suggesting the pervasiveness of the problem (Bradburn, 1969). The determinants of loneliness have not been identified. However, they are usually considered (e.g., Weiss, 1973) to be a combination of personal vulnerabilities (e.g,, ineffective social skills) and circumstances (e.g., divorce, social mobility).Despite its importance, until recently, systematic research in this area was relatively uncommon. In particular, one question which 1, Preliminary reports of this paper were presented at the

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Predictors of adolescent loneliness were investigated in two samples of high school students (n=92)and college undergraduates (n=192).Results were similar across samples. Among the high school sample loneliness was significantly predicted by a combination of alienation, a lack of social facility and acceptance, inferiority feelings, negative school attitudes, and a lack of social integration. Among college students loneliness was negatively related to social facility, regularity, approval, and involvement and positively related to alienation, parental disinterest, negative school attitudes, and inferiority feelings.

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