Loneliness and associated factors in high school adolescents: cross-sectional analytic study from Turkey

Abstract

In this period adolescents may have to deal with many problems. One of these problems is the feeling of loneliness and over time can create bigger problems for the adolescent. This study is a cross-sectional study to determine loneliness and associated factors in high school students. This study employed a cross-sectional design and was implemented with 657 students attending high school. The sample size in the research was calculated as 657 persons by using 99% power and 95% significance interval and the multi-sampling method was used in sample selection. A Personal Information Form and UCLA Loneliness Scale were used in this study. Descriptive statistics, unrelated samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Levene homogeneity of variance test, and Kruskall Wallis test were used to evaluate data. When the characteristics of the adolescents were investigated; 46.0% were female, 30.6% were in 9th grade, 40.9% were 17 years old and the adolescents in the study reported a moderate level of loneliness. Female students (=52.33 ± 5.82) had a higher loneliness level when compared to male students (=49.74 ± 7.45). Mean loneliness scores were higher in female students (t=5.001, p=0.000), in students studying in Science High School (=15.559,p=0.004); those whose mothers worked (t=2.370,p=0.018); those whose Internet use led to anger/depression (t=2.429, p=0.015); in adolescents who have thought of self-harm in the last year (t=3.043,p=0.002). In the study, the loneliness level of adolescents was not affected by the following factors: living with parents or in dormitories (t(649)=0.378; p>0.05), family structure (t(641)=1.702; p>0.05), the area they live (F(2.654)=2.342; p>0.05), income level (F(2.654)=1.978; p>0.05), availability of sufficient pocket money/allowance (t(665)=0.033; p>0.05), number of siblings (F(2.633)=0.468; p>0.05), relationships with siblings (t(623)=1.209; p>0.05), the father's education (F(3.648)=1.596; p>0.05) and the mother's education (X2(3)=0.965; p>0.05). The study found that students had a moderate level of loneliness, and the factors including being female, having a working mother, internet use resulting in anger/depression, and thoughts of self-harm in the last year led to a higher loneliness score.