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

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  • Larissa L. Wieczorek

    (Educational Psychology and Personality Development, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Sarah Humberg

    (Psychological Diagnostics and Personality Psychology, Institute for Psychology, University of Münster, Fliednerstr. 21, 48149 Münster, Germany)

  • Denis Gerstorf

    (Developmental and Educational Psychology, Humboldt University, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany)

  • Jenny Wagner

    (Educational Psychology and Personality Development, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany)

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, M age = 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Larissa L. Wieczorek & Sarah Humberg & Denis Gerstorf & Jenny Wagner, 2021. "Understanding Loneliness in Adolescence: A Test of Competing Hypotheses on the Interplay of Extraversion and Neuroticism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-26, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12412-:d:688034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Megan Morris & Gary Burns & David Periard & Elizabeth Shoda, 2015. "Extraversion–Emotional Stability Circumplex Traits and Subjective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1509-1523, December.
    2. Michael Lynn & Piers Steel, 2006. "National Differences in Subjective Well-Being: The Interactive Effects of Extraversion and Neuroticism," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 155-165, June.
    3. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
    4. Flore Geukens & Marlies Maes & Antonius H. N. Cillessen & Hilde Colpin & Karla Van Leeuwen & Karine Verschueren & Luc Goossens, 2021. "Spotting Loneliness at School: Associations between Self-Reports and Teacher and Peer Nominations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
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