Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies 5/2019

07-02-2019 | Original Paper

Loneliness, Social Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescence: Examining Their Distinctiveness Through Factor Analysis

Auteurs: Sofie Danneel, Patricia Bijttebier, Margot Bastin, Hilde Colpin, Wim Van den Noortgate, Karla Van Leeuwen, Karine Verschueren, Luc Goossens

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 5/2019

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Objectives

Adolescents face multiple changes in their social environment, which makes them more vulnerable to developing internalizing problems with strong interpersonal components, such as feelings of loneliness, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Given the widespread tacit assumption that these internalizing problems represent distinct concepts, research on these internalizing problems has evolved relatively independently. However, this assumption of distinctiveness has not often been empirically tested, especially not in adolescence. In order to check whether it is valid to examine loneliness, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms independently, the current study empirically tested whether these internalizing problems reflect a single latent construct or whether they are better represented by three distinct latent constructs.

Methods

Three large samples of Flemish adolescents were used (i.e., N= 549, Mage = 14.82 in Sample 1; N= 1,116, Mage = 13.79, in Sample 2, and N= 1,423, Mage = 13.58 in Sample 3) in which adolescents filled out well-established and validated self-report questionnaires tapping into the three types of internalizing problems. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in each sample separately. Adolescents filled out well-established and validated self-report questionnaires.

Results

The results contribute to the literature on the co-occurrence of loneliness, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms by showing that these internalizing problems can be best represented as interrelated, but distinguishable constructs.

Conclusions

Based on our findings, examining loneliness, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms in separate research lines seems justified. Statistical techniques examining co-development over time for these internalizing problems can be used with confidence in future research.
Literatuur
go back to reference Alfano, C. A., & Beidel, D. C. (2011). Social anxiety in adolescents and young adults: Translating developmental science into practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Alfano, C. A., & Beidel, D. C. (2011). Social anxiety in adolescents and young adults: Translating developmental science into practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
go back to reference American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
go back to reference Barrett, P. (2007). Structural equation modeling: Adjudging model fit. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 815–824. 10.1016/j.paid.2006.09.018.CrossRef Barrett, P. (2007). Structural equation modeling: Adjudging model fit. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 815–824. 10.1016/j.paid.2006.09.018.CrossRef
go back to reference Bastin M., Luyckx K., Raes F., Nelis S., & Bijttebier P. (2016). Co-rumination and depressive symptoms in adolescence: The intervening role of rumination. Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Baltimore, MD, USA, 31 March–2 April 2016. Bastin M., Luyckx K., Raes F., Nelis S., & Bijttebier P. (2016). Co-rumination and depressive symptoms in adolescence: The intervening role of rumination. Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Baltimore, MD, USA, 31 March–2 April 2016.
go back to reference Bouma, J., Ranchor, A. V., Sanderman, R., & van Sonderen, E. (1995). Het meten van symptomen van depressie met de CES-D: Een handleiding [Measuring symptoms of depression with the CES-D: Manual]. Groningen, The Netherlands: Noordelijk Centrum voor Gezondheidsvraagstukken, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. Bouma, J., Ranchor, A. V., Sanderman, R., & van Sonderen, E. (1995). Het meten van symptomen van depressie met de CES-D: Een handleiding [Measuring symptoms of depression with the CES-D: Manual]. Groningen, The Netherlands: Noordelijk Centrum voor Gezondheidsvraagstukken, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
go back to reference Goossens, L. (Ed.). (2016). Leuvense Eenzaamheidsschaal voor Kinderen en Adolescenten: Handleiding [Loneliness and Aloneness Scale for Children and Adolescents: Manual]. Leuven, Belgium: Acco. Goossens, L. (Ed.). (2016). Leuvense Eenzaamheidsschaal voor Kinderen en Adolescenten: Handleiding [Loneliness and Aloneness Scale for Children and Adolescents: Manual]. Leuven, Belgium: Acco.
go back to reference Gueldner, B. A., & Merrell, K. W. (2011). Interventions for students with internalizing behavioral deficits. In M. A. Bray & T. J. Kehle (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of school psychology (pp. 411–428). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Gueldner, B. A., & Merrell, K. W. (2011). Interventions for students with internalizing behavioral deficits. In M. A. Bray & T. J. Kehle (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of school psychology (pp. 411–428). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Hooge, J., Decaluwé, L., & Goossens, L. (2000). Identiteit en psychisch welbevinden [Identity and well-being]. In J. Hooge, H. De Witte, & L. Walgrave (Eds.), Jongeren in Vlaanderen: Gemeten en geteld. 12- tot 18-jarigen over hun leefwereld en toekomst (pp. 35–58). Leuven, Belgium: Universitaire Pers Leuven. Hooge, J., Decaluwé, L., & Goossens, L. (2000). Identiteit en psychisch welbevinden [Identity and well-being]. In J. Hooge, H. De Witte, & L. Walgrave (Eds.), Jongeren in Vlaanderen: Gemeten en geteld. 12- tot 18-jarigen over hun leefwereld en toekomst (pp. 35–58). Leuven, Belgium: Universitaire Pers Leuven.
go back to reference Janssens, A., Van den Noortgate, W., Goossens, L., Verschueren, K., Colpin, H., De Laet, S., Claes, S., & Van Leeuwen, K. (2015). Externalizing problem behavior in adolescence: Dopaminergic genes in interaction with peer acceptance and rejection. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44, 1441–1456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0304-2.CrossRefPubMed Janssens, A., Van den Noortgate, W., Goossens, L., Verschueren, K., Colpin, H., De Laet, S., Claes, S., & Van Leeuwen, K. (2015). Externalizing problem behavior in adolescence: Dopaminergic genes in interaction with peer acceptance and rejection. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44, 1441–1456. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10964-015-0304-2.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Junttila, N., Laakkonen, E., Niemi, P. M., & Ranta, K. (2010). Modeling the interrelations of adolescents´ loneliness, social anxiety and social phobia. Scientific Annals of the Psychological Society of Northern Greece, 8, 69–99. Junttila, N., Laakkonen, E., Niemi, P. M., & Ranta, K. (2010). Modeling the interrelations of adolescents´ loneliness, social anxiety and social phobia. Scientific Annals of the Psychological Society of Northern Greece, 8, 69–99.
go back to reference Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
go back to reference Kovacs, M. (2003). Children’s Depression Inventory: Technical manual. New York, NY: Multi-Health Systems. Kovacs, M. (2003). Children’s Depression Inventory: Technical manual. New York, NY: Multi-Health Systems.
go back to reference Muthén, B. (1984). A general structural equation model with dichotomous, ordered categorical, and continuous latent variable indicators. Psychometrika, 49, 115–132.CrossRef Muthén, B. (1984). A general structural equation model with dichotomous, ordered categorical, and continuous latent variable indicators. Psychometrika, 49, 115–132.CrossRef
go back to reference Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2017). Mplus user’s guide. 8th ed. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén. Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2017). Mplus user’s guide. 8th ed. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.
go back to reference Nelemans, S. A., Meeus, W. H., Branje, S. J., Van Leeuwen, K., Colpin, H., Verschueren, K., & Goossens, L. (2017). Social anxiety scale for adolescents (SAS-A) short form: Longitudinal measurement invariance in two community samples of youth. Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191116685808. Nelemans, S. A., Meeus, W. H., Branje, S. J., Van Leeuwen, K., Colpin, H., Verschueren, K., & Goossens, L. (2017). Social anxiety scale for adolescents (SAS-A) short form: Longitudinal measurement invariance in two community samples of youth. Assessment. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1177/​1073191116685808​.
go back to reference Perlman, D., & Peplau, L. A. (1981). Toward a social psychology of loneliness. In S. Duck, R. Gilmour (Eds.), Personal relationships in disorder. (Vol. 3, pp. 31–56). London, UK: Academic Press. Perlman, D., & Peplau, L. A. (1981). Toward a social psychology of loneliness. In S. Duck, R. Gilmour (Eds.), Personal relationships in disorder. (Vol. 3, pp. 31–56). London, UK: Academic Press.
go back to reference Poulin, C. C., Hand, D., & Boudreau, B. (2005). Validity of a 12-item version of the CES-D used in the National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth. Chronic Diseases in Canada, 26, 65–72.PubMed Poulin, C. C., Hand, D., & Boudreau, B. (2005). Validity of a 12-item version of the CES-D used in the National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth. Chronic Diseases in Canada, 26, 65–72.PubMed
go back to reference Spithoven, A. W. M., Lodder, G. M. A., Goossens, L., Bijttebier, P., Bastin, M., Verhagen, M., & Scholte, R. H. J. (2017). Adolescents’ loneliness and depression associated with friendship experiences and well-being: A person-centered approach. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46, 429–441. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0478-2.CrossRefPubMed Spithoven, A. W. M., Lodder, G. M. A., Goossens, L., Bijttebier, P., Bastin, M., Verhagen, M., & Scholte, R. H. J. (2017). Adolescents’ loneliness and depression associated with friendship experiences and well-being: A person-centered approach. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46, 429–441. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10964-016-0478-2.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
go back to reference Timbremont, B. & Braet, C. (2002). Handleiding children’s depression inventory [Children’s Depression Inventory: Manual]. Lisse, The Netherlands: Swets Test Publishers. Timbremont, B. & Braet, C. (2002). Handleiding children’s depression inventory [Children’s Depression Inventory: Manual]. Lisse, The Netherlands: Swets Test Publishers.
Metagegevens
Titel
Loneliness, Social Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescence: Examining Their Distinctiveness Through Factor Analysis
Auteurs
Sofie Danneel
Patricia Bijttebier
Margot Bastin
Hilde Colpin
Wim Van den Noortgate
Karla Van Leeuwen
Karine Verschueren
Luc Goossens
Publicatiedatum
07-02-2019
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 5/2019
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01354-3

Andere artikelen Uitgave 5/2019

Journal of Child and Family Studies 5/2019 Naar de uitgave