Disentangling the Longitudinal Relation Between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms: Prospective Effects and the Intervening Role of Coping

Abstract

loneliness and depressive symptoms are closely related constructs. however, mixed evidence exists on their prospective associations and only very few studies to date focused on intervening mechanisms. the present manuscript examined the direction of effects between loneliness and depressive symptoms in two longitudinal studies sampling college students (N = 514 and N = 437, respectively), using cross-lagged path analysis. Furthermore, the mediating and moderating role of active and passive coping strategies was examined. Results indicated that, although bi-directional effects tended to emerge, loneliness was a more consistent predictor of depressive symptoms across both studies than vice versa. Moreover, results indicated that this association was mediated, but not moderated, by coping strategies. loneliness was related to an increased use of passive coping strategies, which, in turn, was a risk factor for later depressive symptoms. implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are outlined.

Emotional sensitivity before and after coping with rejection: A longitudinal study

“…Although not typically examined in a single study, a few investigations with adults (e.g., Aldwin & Revenson, 1987) and university students (e.g., Littleton et al, 2011) have found evidence for one directional pathway, but not the reverse (e.g., Vanhalst et al, 2012). Transactional associations could emerge only at specific times and for specific types of stressors.…”

“…In a second longitudinal study (Calvete et al, 2011) of social stressors, coping, and adjustment among adolescents age 14 to 18 years, primary control coping (including problem solving, emotion regulation, and emotion expression) and disengagement coping were associated with symptom increases over time (see also Connor-Smith, Compas, Wadsworth, Thomsen, & Saltzman, 2000;Wadsworth, Raviv, Compas, & Connor-Smith, 2005). Finally, in a 6-month longitudinal study of 437 university students (Vanhalst et al, 2012), passive coping was associated with increased depression over time.…”

“…Moreover, most studies have been cross-sectional and able to conclude that there are interrelations, rather than providing evidence of temporal associations. Even when studies have the advantage of a longitudinal design (e.g., Calvete et al, 2011;Sugimura et al, 2013;Vanhalst et al, 2012;Visconti & Troop-Gordon, 2010), none have analyzed more then two waves of data. This is limiting, as it restricts the capacity to examine transactional associations over time.…”

Ethnic–Racial Socialization Practices Among Latino Immigrant Families: A Latent Profile Analysis

“…The infrequent use of these specific strategies may be positive in that both have been associated with less desirable outcomes in prior research. Adapt is a form of avoidant coping that can be less helpful for relieving distress than active coping (e.g., Marroquín, Fontes, Scilletta, & Miranda, 2009;Martin, Wolter, Klaas, & Wood, 2010;Vanhalst, Luyckx, Teppers, & Goossens, 2012). Promotion of mistrust has been associated with negative child outcomes (Grindal & Nieri, 2015a, 2015b.…”

Loneliness mediates the relationship between internalised stigma and depression among patients with psychotic disorders

“…The results of some longitudinal studies carried out on non-clinical populations suggest that while loneliness and depression are mutually dependent in time, the impact of the sense of loneliness on depressive symptoms is greater (Vanhalst, Klimstra, et al, 2012) and more stable (Vanhalst, Luyckx, Teppers, & Goossens, 2012) than that of depression on loneliness.…”