Understanding Loneliness in Adolescence: A Test of Competing Hypotheses on the Interplay of Extraversion and Neuroticism

Abstract

Given that adolescents often experience fundamental changes in social relationships, they are considered to be especially prone to loneliness. Meanwhile, theory and research highlight that both extraversion and neuroticism are closely intertwined with individual differences in loneliness. Extant research has explored the linear main effects of these personality traits, yet potential non-linear associations (e.g., exponential effects) and the potential interplay of extraversion and neuroticism (e.g., mutual reinforcement effects) remain unknown. We addressed these open questions using cross-sectional and one-year longitudinal data from two adolescent samples (overall N = 583, Mage = 17.57, 60.55% girls) and an information-theoretic approach combined with polynomial regression. Analyses showed little evidence for interaction effects but revealed non-linear effects in addition to the main effects of extraversion and neuroticism on loneliness. For example, the positive cross-sectional association between neuroticism and loneliness was stronger at higher neuroticism levels (i.e., exponential effect). Results differed across loneliness facets in that both traits predicted emotional loneliness, but only extraversion predicted social loneliness. Longitudinal analyses showed that loneliness changes were mainly related to neuroticism. We discuss results in the light of sample differences, elaborate on the importance to differentiate between emotional versus social aspects of loneliness, and outline implications for adolescent development.

The relation between college students’ neuroticism and loneliness: The chain mediating roles of self-efficacy, social avoidance and distress

“…Previous research has demonstrated that most students with a high degree of neuroticism face a sense of loneliness and that neuroticism could play essential roles in shaping an individual’s feelings of loneliness ( Mourelatos, 2021 ). That is, college students with high neuroticism easily experience loneliness ( Machado et al, 2021 ; Wieczorek et al, 2021 ). Consistent with previous findings ( Xia et al, 2015 ), the results of this study show a positive association between neuroticism and loneliness.…”

“…According to five-factor personality theory, different personality traits form consistent emotional experiences through dynamic systems ( Mccrae and Costa, 1996 ). Personality characteristics play a crucial role in the generation mechanism and process of loneliness, especially in adolescents ( Wieczorek et al, 2021 ), and personality can significantly predict loneliness ( Freilich et al, 2022 ). Numerous studies have shown a clear relation between neuroticism and negative emotions.…”

Contextualizing Potential Factors Impacting on Behaviors of Primary School Adolescents in Northern Uganda

“…Furthermore, during adolescence, individuals progressively adjust from their parents and try to initiate new relationships with peers and romantic partners (Wieczorek et al., 2021). The identification of romantic partners was reported by the teachers as a factor responsible for inadequate perseverance, concentration, and poor academic performance, particularly for the late adolescent age group.…”

“…Extraversion simply is the tendency to socially approach others and enjoy their company (Hofstee et al, 1992;Soto & John, 2017). Wieczorek et al (2021) noted that extraversion might be an important predictor of loneliness in adolescence. In our study, the extraversion measures of shyness, optimism, expressiveness, and demonstration of excess energy are measures of perceived variants of the desired and actual social relationships which could result in a distressing feeling and isolation (De Jong Gierveld et al, 2018;Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2010).…”

Are social support, loneliness, and social connection differentially associated with happiness across levels of introversion-extraversion?

“…Further, people with higher introversion have been shown to receive even a greater boost to happiness relative to people with higher extraversion when engaging in deeper conversations (Sun et al, 2020) and people with higher introversion who are instructed to act more extraverted experience more positive affect (similar to people with higher extraversion) than when they act more introverted (Zelenski et al, 2012). Other studies show that introversion, not extraversion, is associated with higher levels of loneliness (Buecker et al, 2020;Matthews et al, 2022;Mund and Neyer, 2019;Schermer and Martin, 2018;Wieczorek et al, 2021). Given these collective findings, there is little compelling evidence to suggest that people with higher introversion are, by nature, immune to the adverse effects of social isolation and loneliness.…”