The Relationship between Father-Love Absence and Loneliness:Based on the Perspective of the Social Functionalist Theory and the Social Needs Theory

Fathers play an important role in adolescents’development,which is significant for their development and influences their mental health,including feeling of loneliness.However,the effects and mechanisms of father-love absence on individual loneliness are not clear.Based on the social functionalist theory and the social needs theory,this study examines the influence of individual fatherlove absence on loneliness and its underlying mechanisms.A questionnaire survey was administered to 319 junior high school students and 1,476 high school students.The results showed that adolescents with father-love absence had higher levels of loneliness,and that father-love absence affected loneliness levels through mediating pathways of individual gratitude,peer relationships,and gratitude to peer relationships.This study not only confirms the negative effects of father-love absence on adolescents’loneliness,but also explains the mediate roles of individual gratitude and peer relationships.It enriches the theoretical system related to family education and has important theoretical and practical implications for further interventions on adolescents’mental health from the perspective of fatherless parenting.

Isolation in the Ruins: Post-Apocalyptic Loneliness in Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars

Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars is a fascinating meditation of post-apocalyptic loneliness.Set in a dismal world devastated by a devastating virus,the story centers on the protagonist Hig’s experience and response as he navigates a terrain devoid of human connection and meaning.This paper investigates the complexities of loneliness,focusing on Hig’s response to the loss of his wife and dog.Furthermore,it delves into the transformational power of companionship,including Hig’s link with his dog Jasper and his ultimate connection with Cima and her father.The fragmented narrative style of the novel mirrors Hig’s internal struggle,offering a raw and intimate portrayal of his journey towards reconnection and hope.Through the novel,Heller offers his profound thinking on the significance of connection in overcoming even post-apocalyptic loneliness.

Influence of childhood trauma on adolescent internet addiction: The mediating roles of loneliness and negative coping styles

BACKGROUND In the information age,the use of the internet and multimedia tools has large effects on the life of middle school students.Improper use of the internet may result in internet addiction(IA).Thus,actively exploring the factors influencing adolescent and the mechanism of addiction as well as promoting adolescent physical and mental health and academic development are priorities that families,schools,and society urgently need to address.AIM To explore the effect of childhood trauma on adolescent IA and to consider the roles of loneliness and negative coping styles.METHODS A total of 11310 students from six junior high schools in Henan,China,completed the child trauma questionnaire,IA test,loneliness scale,and simple coping style questionnaire.In addition,data were collected from 1044 adolescents with child-hood trauma for analysis with IBM SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 28.0;we examined the relationships among childhood trauma,IA,loneliness,and negative coping styles.RESULTS We found that childhood trauma not only directly affected adolescents’IA but also affected IA through loneliness and negative coping styles.CONCLUSION Therefore,this study has theoretical implications regarding adolescent mental health and may inform interventions for IA.

The Alienation and Loneliness in Orpheus Descending

Orpheus Descending is written by American famous playwright Tennessee Williams. According to the portrayal of a series marginalized people, this drama presents the solitude in human beings' heart and the estrangement in interpersonal relations. This paper tries to analyze the solitude theme in this drama from philosophic aspect and realistic aspect, combining alienation theory and existentialism theory to analyze the reason and the manifestation of solitude.

The impact of perceived social support, loneliness, and physical activity on quality of life in South Korean older adults

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose and test a conceptual model that explains the interrelationships among perceived social support, loneliness, physical activity(PA), and quality of life(QoL) among active older adults in South Korea.Methods: Data were collected from 332 individuals over the age of 65 using a systematic stratified convenience sampling method. Survey data were collected and analyzed using a structural equation model(SEM).Results: Perceived social support had a significantly positive effect on PA(b = 0.14, p < 0.01) and QoL(b = 0.28, p < 0.001) while decreasing loneliness(b = —0.55, p < 0.001). PA had a significant positive effect on QoL(b = 0.12, p < 0.01), and loneliness had a negative effect on QoL(b = —0.37, p < 0.001). Loneliness mediated the relationship between perceived social support and QoL.Conclusion: The SEM results of the current study support the proposed model that explained the interrelationships among perceived social support, loneliness, PA, and QoL among active older adults in South Korea. These findings suggest the importance of incorporating social support mechanisms for PA interventions in order to enhance QoL. The findings of this study can help create more effective health and physical education programs for the older generations in South Korea to enhance their QoL.

Relationships of loneliness and mobile phone dependence with Internet addiction in Japanese medical students

We investigated factors contributing to Internet addiction in 105 Japanese medical students. The subjects were administered by a self-reporting questionnaire designed to evaluate demographic factors, Internet addiction, loneliness, health-related lifestyle factors, depressive state, patterns of behavior, and mobile phone dependence. Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that loneliness and mobile phone dependence were positively related to degree of addiction. Our findings suggest that Internet addiction is associated with loneliness and mobile phone dependence in Japanese students.

The Development of LISTEN: A Novel Intervention for Loneliness

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the development of LISTEN (Loneliness Intervention using Story Theory to Enhance Nursing-sensitive outcomes), a new intervention for loneliness. Methods: LISTEN was developed using the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for intervention development. Extensive literature review revealed that belonging, relating, placing in community, challenges, and meanings of coping were concepts significant to loneliness. Past interventions were limited but it was determined from a recent meta-analysis that enhanced effectiveness might result from interventions that targeted the poorly adapted cognitive processes of loneliness. These processes include social undesirability, stigma, and negative thoughts about self in relation to others. LISTEN is designed to be delivered in a determined logical sequence of 5 sessions, each focusing on the concepts relevant to loneliness as derived from the literature. For each session, intervention delivery is guided by the concepts from story theory (including intentional dialogue, nurse as listener, examination of self in relation to others and community, synthesizing concerns and patterns, and identifying messages) and the principles of cognitive restructuring (self-assessment of maladaptive cognitions, emotions, and behaviors, identifying challenges of changing, reconceptualization of self, new skill acquisition through group interaction, and identifying patterns of meaning in loneliness). Results: LISTEN is developed and the first randomized trial is complete with a sample of 27 lonely, chronically ill, community dwelling, and older adults. LISTEN was evaluated as feasible to deliver by the study team and acceptable for significantly diminishing loneliness by participants of the LISTEN groups who were compared to attention control groups (p < 0.5). Conclusions: LISTEN has the potential to enhance health by diminishing loneliness which could result in improving the long-term negative known sequelae of loneliness. Future longitudinal randomized trials are needed in varied populations to assess long term health and healthcare system benefit of using LISTEN to treat loneliness.

The Correlation between Social Anxiety and Loneliness of Left-Behind Children in Rural China: Effect of Coping Style

In this study, the relationship between social anxiety, coping style and loneliness amongst left-behind children was investigated. The participants were 773 left-behind children recruited from 8 junior middle schools in rural areas of Zhejiang Province in China who completed the Social Anxiety Scale for Children, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and Children’s Loneliness Scale. Results show that there was a moderate correlation between social anxiety and loneliness, and these variables had a significant negative relationship with positive coping style and a significant positive relationship with negative coping style. Furthermore, the left-behind children’s social anxiety, coping style and loneliness were different within specific demographic groups, such as gender, only child status and different type of parental work. Also negative coping style moderated the association between loneliness and social anxiety, so that children who were more likely to use negative coping strategies showed a stronger relationship between social anxiety and loneliness. Finally, the left-behind children’s social anxiety not only directly predicted their loneliness, but also had an indirect effect mediated by their copying style.

The Feasibility and Acceptability of LISTEN for Loneliness

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the initial feasibility and acceptability of LISTEN (Loneliness Intervention using Story Theory to Enhance Nursing-sensitive outcomes), a new intervention for loneliness. Loneliness is a significant stressor and known contributor to multiple chronic health conditions in varied populations. In addition, loneliness is reported as predictive of functional decline and mortality in large samples of older adults from multiple cultures. Currently, there are no standard therapies recommended as effective treatments for loneliness. The paucity of interventions has limited the ability of healthcare providers to translate what we know about the problem of loneliness to active planning of clinical care that results in diminished loneliness. LISTEN was developed using the process for complex intervention development suggested by the Medical Research Council (MRC) [1] [2]. Methods: Feasibility and acceptability of LISTEN were evaluated as the first objective of a longitudinal randomized trial which was set in a university based family medicine center in a rural southeastern community in Appalachia. Twenty-seven older adults [(24 women and 3 men, mean age: 75 (SD 7.50)] who were lonely, community-dwelling, and experiencing chronic illness, participated. Feasibility was evaluated by tracking recruitment efforts, enrollment, attendance to intervention sessions, attrition, and with feedback evaluations from study personnel. Acceptability was assessed using quantitative and qualitative evaluation data from participants. Results: LISTEN was evaluated as feasible to deliver with no attrition and near perfect attendance. Participants ranked LISTEN as highly acceptable for diminishing loneliness with participants requesting a continuation of the program or development of additional sessions. Conclusions: LISTEN is feasible to deliver in a primary healthcare setting and has the potential to diminish loneliness which could result in improvement of the long-term negative known sequelae of loneliness such as hypertension, depression, functional decline, and mortality. Feedback from study participants is being used to inform future trials of LISTEN with consideration for developing additional sessions. Longitudinal randomized trials are needed in varied populations to assess long-term health and healthcare system benefits of diminishing loneliness, and to assess the potential scalability of LISTEN as a reimbursable treatment for loneliness.

Relationship of Internet Addiction with Depression, Loneliness and Health Related Lifestyle among University Students

Internet addiction （IA） is a newly emerged clinical disorder and it has negative effects on physical and mental health. University students are the most vulnerable group for IA, The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of IA with depression, loneliness and health related lifestyle among university students. Cross-sectional survey was conducted by enrolling 175 students of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya. Internet addiction test （IAT） was used to assess the level of IA. Depression, loneliness, and health related lifestyle were assessed using Peradeniya depression scale （PDS）, University of California at Los Angeles （UCLA） loneliness scale and health practice score （HPS） respectively. T-test and ANOVA were conducted to examine the differences; and correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between variables. Overall, 40.6% of students were placed in IA group. Generally 28.6% of students had mild and 12.0% had moderate addiction. No case of severe IA was seen. There were 20.6% of students in depressive state and 17.1% of students had poor HPS. The average score that the student got from loneliness scale was 23.42. There was a positive significant correlation between IA and both depression and loneliness. Moreover, a negative significant correlation found between IA and health related lifestyle. Male students had higher IA scores than female students. The study results are considered to develop preventive interventions and treatment strategies.

Loneliness in Older Chilean People: Importance of Family Dysfunction and Depression

Loneliness is considered a public health problem that negatively affects wellbeing,especially in the older population.In Latin-American countries,most of the older population live with their family.Although this is thought to diminish feelings of loneliness,there is scarce data to support this.The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of loneliness and evaluate its association with objective social networks,family functioning and perception of social support,in a sample of older people from Santiago,Chile.A survey was conducted of a representative sample of community older people(60–97 years)from Santiago,Chile,using the UCLA abbreviated scale of loneliness.Logistic regression was performed to test the variables related to the loneliness of older people.A total of 1,217 older people were interviewed.88%were living with at least one person at home and 92%had living children.Using the UCLA abbreviated scale,45%were found to perceive feelings of loneliness at least some of the time.Logistic regression showed significant association between loneliness and family dysfunction;depressive symptoms;living alone;not having a partner(widowed,separated or single);having little contact with relatives and friends;feeling a lack of social support;and sensation of poor self-efficacy.Loneliness is a prevalent public health problem in this older Latin-American community.Living accompanied does not protect against loneliness,particularly in vulnerable groups such as those with depression,or when there are family conflicts.The high prevalence of loneliness strongly conveys the need for public health policies to address loneliness in older people.

Examining Pet Attitude in Relationship to Loneliness and Parenthood Motivation in Pet-Owning Adults

Pets’ growing role in family dynamics creates questions about resources pets may provide in parenthood motivation. Pet ownership has been suggested in the literature as an antecedent to parenthood in terms of developing skills needed to rear offspring, nurturance, and responsibility. Participants (N = 118) who were pet owners, completed an online survey that recorded demographics and consisted of loneliness, pet attitude, and parenthood motivation scales. Results supported that loneliness and pet attitude were positively related to parenthood motivation (all p’s < 0.05). Loneliness and parenthood motivation did not vary by pet species. Pet attitude varied by pet species;dog owners had the most positive attitude. Pets were shown to be a valuable resource in alleviating feelings of loneliness and parenthood preparation in this sample. Implications for nursing practice and future research are discussed.

A Brief Analysis on the Image of Loneliness in Death of a Salesman

Arthur Miller is one of the representatives of American playwrights in 1940 s. Miller's contribution to modern drama lies in making a good expression of the common's tragedy in his drama. Thus he is called as"an American Ibsenian playwright". The Death of a Salesman, Miller's masterwork, presents a society in pursuit of"success". In it, the hero is just a poor man with failures, and his disillusionment of dream ends up with his tragic death. This thesis primarily summarizes the former studies of the Death of a Salesman, and from a novel prospective, focuses on exploring the reasons and results of the hero's loneliness, so as to further the study of the tragic spirit in it.

Effectiveness of LISTEN on loneliness,neuroimmunological stress response,psychosocial functioning,quality of life,and physical health measures of chronic illness

Objectives:Loneliness is a biopsychosocial determinant of health and contributes to physical and psychological chronic illnesses,functional decline,and mortality in older adults.This paper presents the results of the first randomized trial of LISTEN,which is a new cognitive behavioral intervention for loneliness,on loneliness,neuroimmunological stress response,psychosocial functioning,quality of life,and measures of physical health.Methods:The effectiveness of LISTEN was evaluated in a sample population comprising 27 lonely,chronically ill,older adults living in Appalachia.Participants were randomized into LISTEN or educational attention control groups.Outcome measures included salivary cortisol and DHEA,interleukin-6,interleukin-2,depressive symptoms,loneliness,perceived social support,functional ability,quality of life,fasting glucose,blood pressure,and body mass index.Results:At 12 weeks after the last intervention session,participants of the LISTEN group reported reduced loneliness(p=0.03),enhanced overall social support(p=0.05),and decreased systolic blood pressure(p=0.02).The attention control group reported decreased functional ability(p=0.10)and reduced quality of life(p=0.13).Conclusions:LISTEN can effectively diminish loneliness and decrease the systolic blood pressure in community-dwelling,chronically ill,older adults.Results indicate that this population,if left with untreated loneliness,may experience functional impairment over a period as short as 4 months.Further studies on LISTEN are needed with larger samples,in varied populations,and over longer periods of time to assess the long-term effects of diminishing loneliness in multiple chronic conditions.

Protective Factors for Loneliness among Adolescents during COVID-19: Role of the Interpersonal Relationships and Sibling Status

This study examined the moderating effects of parent-child,same-sex,opposite-sex and teacher-student relation-ships between sibling status and loneliness during COVID-19.A total of 1,591 adolescents in China completed the study questionnaires which assessed the aforementioned variables.The results showed that same-sex and teacher-student relationships moderated the association between sibling status and loneliness.The results indicated that among participants with good same-sex relationships during COVID-19,compared to non-only-children parti-cipants,the only-children participants were more likely to experience a lower level of loneliness.However,parti-cipants with poor same-sex relationships experienced similar level of loneliness regardless of whether they had siblings.Thesefindings would be helpful for parents,teachers,and other stakeholders to take effective measures to reduce loneliness feelings among Chinese adolescents.

Effect of distinct psychological interventions on changes in selfreported distress,depression and loneliness among older adults during COVID-19

BACKGROUND Older adults have been considered a primary at-risk population during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,and many efforts have been and still are directed toward supporting them and enhancing their capacity to cope with the pandemic.Evidence shows that by enhancing proactive coping abilities through psychological interventions,in which cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness techniques are taught and practiced effectively,these interventions have supported older adults throughout the pandemic.However,the underlying mechanisms by which specific intervention components affect various mental states such as distress,depression and loneliness among older adults remain unclear and warrant investigation.AIM To determine the effect of an intervention using cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness techniques on changes in distress,depression and loneliness.METHODS We performed a secondary analysis on data from a previous study in which community-dwelling older adults attended a short-term,internet-based intervention during the first COVID-19 wave in Israel.The intervention included seven sessions during which various cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness techniques were learned and practiced.In-session changes in psychological distress were measured using the Subjective Units of Distress Scale(SUDS),which participants rated at the beginning and end of each session.Participants also filled out questionnaires that evaluated levels of depression[Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-9)]and loneliness(UCLA loneliness Scale)prior to and after the entire intervention process.The effect of in-session changes in the SUDS on changes in post-intervention depression and loneliness levels were assessed,as a proxy for distinct technique effectiveness.RESULTS The findings indicated in-session differences in terms of a decrease in psychological distress(SUDS).Sessions that included relaxation exercises and guided imagery,as well as sessions that included cognitive restructuring and mindfulness meditation,demonstrated the largest decreases in in-session psychological distress(≥35%).Two multivariate regression models,one for levels of post-intervention depression(PHQ-9 score)and the other for levels of post-intervention loneliness(UCLA loneliness score),were fitted.The results revealed two statistically significant explanatory variables for depression:The SUDS difference for sessions in which cognitive restructuring and mindfulness meditation were practiced,beta=-0.25,95%CI:-1.23 to-0.1,and the pre-intervention level of depression,beta=0.62,95%CI:0.37-0.75.The second model for loneliness revealed only one significant explanatory variable:The SUDS difference for sessions in which relaxation and guided imagery were practiced,beta=0.41,95%CI:0.14-0.65.CONCLUSION Different psychological techniques seem to have different effects on distress,loneliness and depression.Understanding the pathways by which distinct techniques affect negative mental symptoms has implications for future intervention design.

Loneliness in Adolescents: A Flash Survey through Smartphones

Background: Loneliness has recently jumped to scholars’ attention due to a number of longitudinal studies’ results, impacting on health and quality of life of individuals, and political activities (such as the appointment of a dedicated ministry in the UK). All of these results have stimulated the need for better knowledge of the phenomenon and their consequences on different gender and age groups. Aim: So far, most of attention has been dedicated to the problem of older adults;however, younger individuals seem to also appear very vulnerable to loneliness. Method: This short communication is meant to open a window on adolescents’ feelings of being lonely or socially isolated, and does so through an investigation performed in the context of a conference on the very theme of loneliness. Results: Even at the age group considered in this study (individuals between 14 and 16 years old) loneliness appears to be a frequent problem. The contribution of the Internet and social media to this phenomenon needs to be clarified. Conclusions: Raising awareness on the seriousness of loneliness for an individual’s health and wellbeing appears today of paramount importance. Actions need to be taken at different levels to counteract the consequences of loneliness.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Anxiety and Loneliness Levels of Elderly People and the Role of Counseling on Their Wellbeing

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused confusion and upset in many areas of life,resulting in humanity’s rapid adjustment to changes to contain the virus.The high infection rates have stipulated many governments to introduce severe restrictions on individual freedoms to minimize broader contagion.These strict hygienic protocols have disrupted the daily routines of many people of all ages,especially third-age citizens.The elderly,one of the most vulnerable sections of the population,seem to be paying the highest toll in terms of contagion and deaths.In this study we aim to investigate the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic contagion measures have impacted the loneliness and anxiety levels of third-age citizens(65+)in Cyprus and Greece and to explore the potential role of counseling in improving their psychological well-being.Quarantine and social isolation measures have eliminated the social life of senior citizens,creating the potential for loneliness and anxiety symptoms making the need for supportive mechanisms,e.g.,through counseling,even more imminent.Our research is quantitative.We collected data through an online survey that included the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale.Our sample consisted of 156 Greeks and Cypriots of both genders aged 65-85 years old.Findings indicated very high levels of anxiety and loneliness,with values on both scales rising above average.Only a tiny percentage of third-age citizens were able to access counseling services during the social isolation measures.

Surgery and Caregiving: Loneliness of the Patients and Those Who Care for Them

This research, conducted on patients and caregivers, examined the qualitative aspects of their loneliness. Patients were divided into those who were approached before they had surgery, and those post operatively. We collected information about their tumors, which were either benign or malignant. The patients’ loneliness was compared to their caregivers who were either intimate partners or “others”, i.e. family members and friends. The loneliness questionnaire, has already been extensively utilized in previous studies, and was used to explore the various aspects of loneliness of those groups. Significant differences in subscale scores were found in patients pre and post surgery, with those who have already had surgery scoring higher. Additionally, those who were cared for by a partner scored lower on the loneliness subscales than those attended to by “other”. Interestingly, the only significant difference in the caregiver group was between men and women, in line with the socialization process of the genders, which makes women more open and vocal about their feelings and needs.

Childhood Bullying, Loneliness and Resiliency—A Critical Review of the Literature

There are numerous contributing factors that shape an individual’s level of resiliency. The experience of childhood bullying (peer victimization), loneliness and resiliency is among them. There is growing research that associates childhood peer victimization to problematic patterns of emotional, behavioral, and academic adjustment among adolescents. The purpose of this literature review is to examine five key studies, which focus on the interplay among childhood bullying, loneliness and resiliency. These five key studies are selected based on the author’s assessment of their contribution and significance in data, perspective, and impact on further research.