Poster #73 - Peer Relationships Mediate Pathways from Behavioral Qualities to Childhood Loneliness in United States and China

• In Event: Poster Session 19

Abstract

Introduction
Loneliness is a cognitive and affective reaction to a discrepancy between desired and experienced social relationships (Peplau & Perlman, 1982). As such, we suggest that the impact of behavior characteristics on loneliness (e.g., academic performance, aggression, athletic competence, shyness) is mediated by relationship parameters (e.g., friendship, popularity, social preference). In the present study, we tested this hypothesis with longitudinal data of children in the U.S. and China. We also explored similarities and differences in the determinants of childhood loneliness across contexts.
Method
Participants: Participants were 576 fifth-grade Chinese children (276 girls) with mean age of 10.58 years, and 540 fifth-grade U.S. children (275 girls; 40% African-American, 36% White, 13% Latino, 5% Asian, and 5% other) with mean age of 10.23 years.
Data and Measures: Data was collected at two waves approximately 6 months apart. Loneliness was self-reported, and peer assessments were conducted to assess behavioral qualities and social status. Reciprocated friendships were calculated based on friendship nominations within classroom. Academic performance was obtained from school records.
Analysis: Two sets of longitudinal mediational models were tested. First, three longitudinal models in which the associations between behavioral qualities (i.e., shyness, aggression, athletic competence, and academic performance) and loneliness were mediated separately by each relationship parameter (i.e., friendship, popularity, social preference) were tested. Second, a comprehensive model including all three relationship parameters as mediators was assessed. Analyses were conducted using SEM and multi-group equality test was used to assess country and sex differences in parameters.
Results
Results for single mediator models were presented in the table. Friendship and social preference were negatively associated with loneliness for children in both countries, whereas popularity was associated with loneliness only for U.S. children. Relationship parameters fully or partially mediated the longitudinal associations between multiple behavior qualities and loneliness. From these analyses, it was found that academic performance and shyness respectively predicted loneliness only for Chinese and U.S. children.
Results for the combined model were shown in the figure. The negative pathway from popularity to loneliness and from social preference to loneliness existed only for U.S. and Chinese children respectively. In summary, social preference and friendship fully mediated the associations between loneliness and athletic competence, academic performance and aggression for Chinese children. In contrast, popularity and friendship fully mediated the associations between loneliness and shyness, athletic competence, and aggression for U.S. children.
Conclusion
The results from this study supported the hypothesis that the impact of behavioral qualities on loneliness is likely to act through social relationships. Both similarities and differences were found in the determinants of childhood loneliness in China and the U.S. Specifically, the importance of friendship and social preference was revealed for children of both countries, while popularity was only important for U.S. children. Low athletic competence and shyness were more robust predictors of loneliness for U.S. children, whereas low academic performance and aggression were more strongly associated with loneliness for Chinese children. These findings suggest that children’s loneliness may be shaped by broad socio-cultural context.

Authors

• Keqin Zhang, Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Presenting Author

• Jingyi Duan

• Xinyin Chen, University of Pennsylvania

• Scott D. Gest, University of Virginia

• Doran C French, Purdue University, West Lafayette