The Acceptance of Lonely Others: Effects of Loneliness and Gender of the Target Person and Loneliness of the Perceiver

Abstract

The reactions of lonely people toward other lonely people and the relationship between loneliness and self-concepts were examined. The 2-way and 3-way interaction effects showed that low lonely perceivers reacted more negatively toward the lonely target person. The relationship between loneliness and self-concept was examined using a multidimensional measure of self-concept. Results showed that loneliness correlated negatively with self-concept. In multiple regression analyses, the most significant predictors of loneliness were self-concept of relations with same gender and opposite gender peers and general self-concept.

Compulsivity, Substance Use, and Loneliness: The Loneliness and Sexual Risk Model (LSRM)

“…Although some individuals may quickly overcome their feelings of loneliness, sometimes feelings of loneliness become persistent, and if not controlled become extremely painful, placing people at risk for Downloaded by [Flinders University of South Australia] at 22:46 02 January 2015 myriad health, emotional, and behavioral problems. Indeed, research has linked loneliness to depression, anxiety, interpersonal hostility (Hansson, Jones, Carpenter, & Remondet, 1986;Lau & Kong, 1999), drug and alcohol abuse, psychosomatic illnesses (McWhirter, 1990), poor self-esteem (Jones, Freemon, & Goswick, 1981), greater communication difficulties (Edwards, Bello, Brandau-Brown, & Hollens, 2001;Perlman & Peplau, 1984), general dissatisfaction, unhappiness, feelings of emptiness, boredom, restlessness (Roscoe & Skomski, 1989), paranoia, alienation, an external locus of control, aggression (Diamont & Windholz, 1981), increased vulnerability to health problems (Jones & Carver, 1990;Russell, 1996), lower quality of life (Chipuer, Bramston, & Petty, 2003), suicide (Cutrona, 1982;Tundo & Baldessarini, 2001), and even early death (Rokach & Orzeck, 2003).…”

Socio-Demographic Predictors of Loneliness Across the Adult Life Span in Portugal

“…Gender differences in loneliness seem to be higher when loneliness is assessed in a direct way than when it is measured indirectly. This suggests that disclosing loneliness may be more socially accepted in women than in men (Lau & Kong, 1999).…”

Loneliness then and now: Reflections on social and emotional alienation in everyday life

“…Secondly, loneliness is a very unpleasant state of being that can have serious individual and social consequences. Loneliness has been linked to depression, anxiety, and interpersonal hostility (Hansson, Jones, Carpenter, & Remondet, 1986;Lau & Kong, 1999), to drug and alcohol abuse (McWhirter, 1990), to an increased vulnerability to health problems (Jones, Rose, & Russell, 1990), and even to suicide (Cutrona, 1982;Tundo & Baldessarini, 2001). In a more global way, breakdown in social interactions, alienation, high divorce rates, and widespread crimes have been seen as symptoms of social decay which are closely related to loneliness (Mijuskovic, 1992).…”