Psychological Development and Education ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (2): 230-239.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2021.02.10

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Trajectory of Friendship Quality and Loneliness in Junior High School Students: A Multivariate Growth Model Analysis

ZHANG Hao, MA Tianyu, WANG Yuan, LI Caina   

  1. School of Psychology, Shanxi Normal University, Shanxi Provincial Key Research Center of Child Mental and Behavioral Health, Shanxi Normal University Branch of Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality at Beijing Normel University, Xi'an, 710062
  • Published:2021-03-23

RichHTML

PDF (PC)

Abstract: In this study,875 adolescents (M=12.73±0.18, 494 boys) were recruited from 3 junior high school in Xi' an, China. The friendship quality and loneliness of students were measured by the Network of Relationships Inventory and Loneliness Scale for three times in 3 years. Latent growth modeling was used to examine the growth trajectories of friendship quality and loneliness, and the longitudinal effects of friendship quality on loneliness were analyzed by multivariate latent growth modeling. The results were as followed: (1) during the whole stage of junior high school, the growth trajectory of adolescents' friendship quality and loneliness are both linear, which indicated that the former increased gradually and the latter decreased at the same time; (2) there existed significant difference among individuals in the initial level and variation rate; (3) the multivariate latent growth model suggested that the initial level of friendship quality can effectively predicted the initial level of loneliness (β=-1.77, p<0.001) and subsequent decreased rate of loneliness(β=0.20, p<0.05); (4) the boys' initial loneliness was higher than girls, but the initial friendship quality was lower than girls'; the initial loneliness of high SES individuals was higher than that of low SES individuals. Our findings revealed the dynamic change of loneliness and friendship quality and the predictive effect of friendship quality on loneliness in junior middle school, which provided suggestions on improving teenagers' loneliness.

Key words: teenagers, loneliness, friendship quality, multiple latent growth model

CLC Number: 

  • B844
Al-yagon, M. (2008). On the links between aggressive behaviour, loneliness, and patterns of close relationships among non-clinical school-age boys. Research in Education, 80(1), 75-92.
Al-yagon, M. (2011). Adolescents' subtypes of attachment security with fathers and mothers and self-perceptions of socioemotional adjustment. Psychology, 2(4), 291-299.
Asher, S. R., & Paquette, J. A. (2003).Loneliness and peer relations in childhood. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12(3), 75-78.
Bakker, M. P., Ormel, J., Verhulst, F. C., & Oldhinkel, A. J. (2010). Peer stressors and gender differences in adolescents' mental health:The trail study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(5), 444-450.
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong:Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497-529.
Berndt, T. J., & Keefe, K. (1995). Friends'influence on adolescents' adjustment to school. Child Development, 66(5), 1312-1329.
Błachnio, A., Przepiorka, A., Boruch, W., & Bałakier, E. (2016). Self-presentation styles, privacy, and loneliness as predictors of Facebook use in young people.Personality and Individual Differences, 94, 26-31.
Blakemore, S. J., & Choudhury, S. (2006). Development of the adolescent brain:Implications for executive function and social cognition. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry,47(3-4), 296-312.
Brechwald, W. A., & Prinstein, M. J. (2011). Beyondhomophily:A decade of advances in understanding peer influence processes. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(1), 166-179.
Buecker, S., Maes, M., Denissen, J. J. A., & Luhmann, M. (2019). Loneliness and the Big Fivepersonality traits:A meta-analysis. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Caldwell, W. K. (1997). Friendships, peer acceptance, and group membership:Relations to academic achievement in middle school.Child Development, 68(6), 1198-1209.
Cohen-Mansfield, J., Hazan, Haim, Lerman, Yaffa, & Shalom, Vera. (2016). Correlates and predictors of loneliness in older-adults:A review of quantitative results informed by qualitative insights. International Psychogeriatrics, 28(4), 557-576.
Coplan, R. J., Closson, L. M., & Arbeau, K. A. (2007). Gender differences in the behavioral associates of loneliness and social dissatisfaction in kindergarten. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48(10), 988-995.
Dykstra, P. A., Van Tilburg, T., & Gierveld, J. D. (2005). Changes in older adult loneliness:Results from a seven-year longitudinal study. Research on Aging, 27(6), 725-747.
Espinoza, G., & Juvonen, J. (2011). Perceptions of the school social context across the transition to middle school:Heightened sensitivity among Latino students?Journal of Educational Psychology, 103(3), 749-758.
Gallardo, L. O., Martinalbo, J., & Barrasa, A. (2018). Whatleads to loneliness? An integrative model of social, motivational, and emotional approaches in adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 28(4), 839-857.
Goossens, L., van Roekel, E., Verhagen, M., Cacioppo, J. T., Cacioppo, S., Maes, M., & Boomsma, D. I. (2015). The genetics of loneliness:Linking evolutionary theory to genome-wide genetics, epigenetics, and social science.Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 213-226.
Grossmann, I., & Varnum, M. E. W. (2010). Social class, culture, and cognition.Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2(1), 81-89.
Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Lonelinessmatters:A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218-227.
Heinrich, L. M., & Gullone, E. (2006). The clinical significance of loneliness:A literature review. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(6), 695-718.
Hopwood, C. J.,Donnellan, M. B., Blonigen, D. M., Krueger, R. F., McGue, M., Iacono, W. G., & Burt, S. A. (2011). Genetic and environmental influences on personality trait stability and growth during the transition to adulthood:A three-wave longitudinal study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100(3), 545-556.
Jobe-Shields, L., Cohen, R., & Parra, G. R. (2011). Patterns of change in children's loneliness:Trajectories from third through fifth grades.Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 57(1), 25-47.
Jones, W. H. (1982). Loneliness and social behavior. In L. A. Peplau & D. Perlman (Eds.),Loneliness:A sourcebook of current theory, research and therapy (pp. 238-252). New York:Wiley.
Junttila, N., & Vauras, M. (2009). Loneliness among school-aged children and their parents. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 50(3), 211-219.
Kraus, M. W., Piff, P. K., Mendoza-Denton, R., Rheinschmidt, M. L., & Keltner, D. (2012). Social class, solipsism, and contextualism:How the rich are different from the poor.Psychological Review, 119(3), 546-572.
Ladd, G. W., & Ettekal, I. (2013). Peer-related loneliness across early to late adolescence:Normative trends, intra-individual trajectories, and links with depressive symptoms. Journal of Adolescence, 36(6), 1269-1282.
Lempinen, L., Junttila, N., & Sourander, A. (2018). Loneliness and friendships among eight-year-old children:Time-trends over a 24-year period. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(2), 171-179.
Ma, C. Q., & Huebner, E. S. (2010). Attachment relationships and adolescents' life satisfaction:Some relationships matter more to girls than boys. Psychology in the Schools, 45(2), 177-190.
Madjar, N., & Cohen-Malayev, M. (2016). Perceived school climate across the transition from elementary to middle school. School Psychology Quarterly, 31(2), 270-288.
Mckay, M. T., Konowalczyk, S., Andretta, J. R., & Cole, J. C. (2017). The direct and indirect effect of loneliness on the development of adolescent alcohol use in the United Kingdom. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 6, 65-70.
Mounts, N. S., Valentiner, D. P., Anderson, K. L., & Boswell, M. K. (2006). Shyness,sociability, and parental support for the college transition:Relation to adolescents' adjustment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(1), 68-77.
Mund, M., Freuding, M. M., Mobius, K., Horn, N., & Neyer, F. J. (2020). The stability and change of loneliness across the life span:A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 24(1), 1-29.
Peplau, L. A., & Perlman, D. (1982). Perspectives on loneliness. In L. A. Peplau & D. Perlman (Eds.),Loneliness:A sourcebook of current theory, research and therapy (pp. 1-18). New York:Wiley.
Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2001). Influences on loneliness in older adults:A meta-analysis.Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 23(4), 245-266.
Qualter, P., Brown, S. L., Rotenberg, K. J., Vanhalst, J., Harris, R.,Goossens, L., … Munn, P. (2013). Trajectories of loneliness during childhood and adolescence:Predictors and health outcomes. Journal of Adolescence, 36(6), 1283-1293.
Qualter, P., Vanhalst, J., Harris, R., Van Roekel, E., Lodder, G. M., Bangee, M., … Verhagen, M. (2015). Loneliness across the life span. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 250-264.
Roekel, E. V., Scholte, R. H. J., Verhagen, M., Goossens, L., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2010). Loneliness in adolescence:Gene×environment interactions involving the serotonin transporter gene. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51(7), 747-754.
Rogol, A. D., Roemmich, J. N., & Clark, P. A. (2002). Growth at puberty. Journal of Adolescent Health, 31(6), 192-200.
Rotenberg, K. J.,& Hymel, S. (1999). Loneliness in childhood and adolescence. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
Rubin, K. H., Bukowski, W., & Laursen, B. (2009). In K. H. Rubin, W. M. Bukowksi, and B. Laursen (Eds), Handbook of peer interactions, relationships, and groups(pp. 1-33). New York:Guilford.
Rubin, K. H., Wojslawowicz, J. C., Rosekrasnor, L., Boothlaforce, C., & Burgess, K. B. (2006). The best friendships of shy/withdrawn children:Prevalence, stability, and relationship quality. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 34(2), 139-153.
Rudatsikira, E., Muula, A. S., Siziya, S., & Twa-Twa, J. (2007). Suicidal ideation and associated factors among school-going adolescents in rural Uganda.BMC Psychiatry, 7(1), 67-72.
Sorhagen, N. S., & Wurster, T. J. (2017). Income within context:Relative income matters for adolescent social satisfaction and mental health. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58(6), 736-743.
Styne, D. M. (2003). A practical approach to the diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) deficiency in patients transitioning to adulthood using GH stimulation testing. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, 16(3), 637-643.
Vanhalst, J., Goossens, L., Luyckx, K., Scholte, R. H. J., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2013). The development of loneliness from mid-to late adolescence:Trajectory classes, personality traits, and psychosocial functioning. Journal of Adolescence, 36(6), 1305-1312.
Wei, M., Shaffer, P. A., Young, S. K., & Zakalik, R. A. (2005). Adult attachment, shame, depression, and loneliness:The mediation role of basic psychological needs satisfaction. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(4), 591-601.
Weiss, R. S. (1973).Loneliness:The experience of emotional and social isolation. Cambridge, MA:MIT Press.
Wiseman, H., Mayseless, O., & Sharabany, R. (2006). Why are they lonely? Perceived quality of early relationships with parents, attachment, personality predispositions and loneliness in first-year university students. Personality and Individual Differences, 40(2), 237-248.
Woodhouse, S. S., Dykas, M. J., & Cassidy, J. (2012). Loneliness and Peer Relations in Adolescence. Social Development, 21(2), 273-293.
董佳, 谭顶良, 张岩. (2019). 流动儿童社会支持和城市适应的关系:希望和是否独生子女的作用. 中国特殊教育, (6), 78-84.
戴伟民, 冯淑兰, 余兰琼, 张生平, 章星波, 彭启智, 刘正荣. (2005). 独生与非独生子女的SCL-90及EPQ对照研究. 中国心理卫生杂志, 19(4), 256-258.
李晓辰. (2016). 初中生友谊质量现状调查与友谊质量提升方案(硕士学位论文). 内蒙古师范大学, 呼和浩特.
李笑燃, 姜永志, 张斌. (2018). 孤独感对青少年问题性移动社交网络使用的影响:人际困扰和积极自我呈现的作用. 心理科学, 41(5), 1117-1123.
李艳, 朱蓉蓉, 何畏, 潘莉, 李志明. (2018). 大学生反刍思维在孤独感与自杀意念相关性中的中介作用. 中国心理卫生杂志, 32(10), 873-876.
蔺秀云, 方晓义, 刘杨, 兰菁. (2009). 流动儿童歧视知觉与心理健康水平的关系及其心理机制. 心理学报, 41(10), 967-979.
刘俊升, 周颖, 李丹. (2013). 童年中晚期孤独感的发展轨迹:一项潜变量增长模型分析. 心理学报, 45(2), 179-192.
彭源, 朱蕾, 王振宏. (2018). 父母情绪表达与青少年问题行为:亲子依恋、孤独感的多重中介效应. 心理发展与教育, 34(4), 504-512.
孙晓军, 周宗奎. (2007). 儿童同伴关系对孤独感的影响. 心理发展与教育, 23(1), 24-29.
孙晓军, 周宗奎, 范翠英, 柯善玉. (2009). 童年中期不同水平的同伴交往变量与孤独感的关系. 心理科学, 32(3), 567-570.
田录梅, 张文新, 陈光辉. (2014). 父母支持、友谊质量对孤独感和抑郁的影响:检验一个间接效应模型. 心理学报, 46(2), 238-251.
田录梅, 陈光辉, 王姝琼, 刘海娇, 张文新. (2012). 父母支持、友谊支持对早中期青少年孤独感和抑郁的影响. 心理学报, 44(7), 944-956.
王晓丽, 胡心怡, 申继亮. (2011). 农村留守儿童友谊质量与孤独感、抑郁的关系研究. 中国临床心理学杂志, 19(2), 252-254.
王英春, 邹泓, 张秋凌. (2006). 初中生友谊的发展特点. 心理发展与教育, 22(2), 52-56.
王中会, 蔺秀云. (2018). 流动儿童的亲子依恋与其城市适应的关系:心理韧性的中介作用. 心理发展与教育, 34(3), 284-293.
赵景欣,刘霞,申继亮.(2018)留守青少年的社会支持网络与其抑郁、孤独之间的关系——基于变量中心和个体中心的视角.心理发展与教育,(01),36-42.
钟萍, 邓慧华, 张光珍, 梁宗保, 陆祖宏. (2017). 青少年友谊关系质量与社交焦虑的相互影响:一项交叉滞后分析. 心理发展与教育, 33(6), 727-733.
周宗奎, 赵冬梅, 孙晓军, 定险峰. (2006). 儿童的同伴交往与孤独感:一项2年纵向研究. 心理学报, 38(5), 743-750.
[1] ZHANG Huiru, ZHANG Weida, FU Wangqian, DENG Min, PENG Suhao, LI Yu. The Influence of Loneliness on Creative Inclination: Mediating Role of Boredom and Anxiety [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(1): 132-141.
[2] PENG Haiyun, SHENG Liang, WANG Jinrui, ZHOU Ziyan, XIN Sufei. Changes of Adolescents’ Loneliness in China (2001~2019): The Perspective of Cross-temporal Meta-analysis [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2023, 39(3): 449-456.
[3] SU Zhiqiang, MA Zhengyu. The Relationship between the Friendship Quality and Loneliness during Childhood: Analysis of the Covariant Effects of Coping Styles [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2023, 39(1): 31-39.
[4] ZHANG Yihan, ZHANG Ting, ZHAO Jingxin. The Relationship between Perceived Discrimination and Left-behind Adolescent's Loneliness: The Moderating Roles of Separation Age and Separation Duration [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2022, 38(1): 90-99.
[5] NIU Kaining, LI Mei, ZHANG Xiangkui. The Relationship Between Adolescents' Friendship Quality and Subjective Well-being: A Meta-analysis [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2021, 37(3): 407-418.
[6] QI Di, LIN Yue, LIU Qinxue. Smartphone Addiction out of “Beating”? The Effect of Harsh Parenting on Smartphone Addiction of Adolescents [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(6): 677-685.
[7] FAN Zhiyu, WU Yan. Relationship between Parent-child Relationship, Loneliness and Depression among the Left-behind Rural Children: Gratitude as a Mediator and a Moderator [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(6): 734-742.
[8] DU Xuan, LIN Jiayi, CHEN Lijing. The Space-time Metaphor of the Children and Teenagers [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(5): 513-519.
[9] ZHANG Rongwei, KE Shaojing, LIAN Rong, LI Dan. The Association between Interpersonal Competence and Meaning in Life: Roles of Loneliness and Grade [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(5): 576-583.
[10] HENG Shupeng, ZHAO Huanfang, NIU Gengfeng, ZHOU Zongkui. Likes on WeChat Moments and Subjective Well-Being: A Mediated Moderation Model [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(3): 341-349.
[11] SHI Zifu, XIE Yuntian. Effect of Problematic Internet Use on Suicidal Ideation among Junior Middle School Students: A Moderated Mediation Model [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2019, 35(5): 581-588.
[12] TIAN Yuan, SONG Youzhi, ZHOU Zongkui, HUANG Chun, ZHAO Yiqian. A Multilevel Analysis of The Developmental Trajectory of Belief in a Just World in Adolescence and Its Predictors [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2019, 35(2): 146-156.
[13] CHEN Haobin, LIU Jie. The Relations between Family Socioeconomic Status and Teenagers' Wisdom: the Mediating Roles of Positive Parenting Style and Openness Personality [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2018, 34(5): 558-566.
[14] PENG yuan, ZHU lei, WANG zhenhong. Association between Parental Emotion Expressiveness and Adolescents' Behavior Problem: the Mediating Role of the Parent-Child Attachment and Loneliness [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2018, 34(4): 504-512.
[15] XU Bibo, XIE Han, LIN Chongde, WU Peng. The Chinese Researches of Internet Psychology and Behavior of Teenagers, Current Status and Future [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2018, 34(3): 377-384.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!
Copyright 2018 © Editorial office of Psychological Development and Education
Supported by Beijing Magtech Co.Ltd