Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ndmmz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-01T15:02:27.466Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Role of Gender, Attachment Dimensions, and Family Environment on Loneliness Among Turkish University Students

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 July 2013

Aylin Demirli  and
Ayhan Demir
Aylin Demirli*
Affiliation:
Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
Ayhan Demir
Affiliation:
Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
*
address for correspondence: Aylin Demirli, Ankara University, Educational Science Faculty Department of Educational Sciences 06531 Ankara Türkiye. Email: ademirli@ankara.edu.tr
Get access

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of gender, attachment dimensions and family environment in explaining loneliness among students. The study included 473 students (281 females, 192 males) from Ankara University. The UCLA Loneliness Scale, Family Environment Assessment Scale and Experiences in Close Relationships — Revised Questionnaire were administered to all participants. The results of the regression analyses demonstrated that the avoidance dimension of attachment accounted for 11%, avoidance and anxiety 14%, all attachment dimensions and family environment 18%, and all variables together (attachment dimensions, family environment, gender) accounted for 19% of variance in loneliness. The present study demonstrated that insecurely attached males with low-coherent families reported the highest degree of loneliness. On the contrary, securely attached females with high-coherent families reported the lowest degree of loneliness.

Keywords

attachmentfamily environmentgenderlonelinessTurkish culture
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , June 2014 , pp. 62 - 75
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Australian Academic Press Pty Ltd 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ainsworth, M.D.S. (1989). Attachments beyond infancy. American Psychologist, 44, 709–716.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Adams, K.B., Sadors, S., & Auth, E.A. (2004). Loneliness and depression in independent living retirement communities: Risk and resilience factors. Aging & Mental Health, 8 (6), 475–485. doi:org/10.1080/13607860410001725054CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Altun, E. (2001). The relationship between family environment and gender-role identity across male and female adolescents. Unpublished masters thesis, Middle East Technical University.Google Scholar
Ataca, B., Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç., & Diri, A. (2005). The Turkish family and the value of children: trends over time. In Trommsdorff, G. & Nauck, B. (Eds.), Value of Children (pp. 67–91). Stuttgart: Enke.Google Scholar
Barnes, H.L. & Olson, D. (1985). Parent-adolescent communication and the circumflex model. Child Development, 56, 438–477. doi:org/10.2307/1129732CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernardon, S., Babb, K.A., Hakim-Larson, J., & Gragg, M. (2011). Loneliness, attachment and the perception and use of social support in university students. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 43 (1), 40–51. doi:10.1037/a0021199CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhogle, S. (1991). Perception of loneliness as an index of culture and age. Psychological Studies, 36, 174–179.Google Scholar
Bogaerts, S., Vanheule, S., & Desmet, M. (2006). Feelings of subjective emotional loneliness: An exploration of attachment. Social Behavior and Personality, 34 (7), 797–812. doi:org/10.2224/sbp.2006.34.7.797CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1977). The making and breaking of affectional bonds: I. Aetiology and psychopathology in the light of attachment theory. British Journal of Psychiatry, 30, 201–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brage, D., Meredith, W., & Woodward, J. (1994). A causal model of adolescent depression. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary & Applied, 128 (4), 455–469. doi:org/10.1080/00223980.1994.9712752CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brussoni, M.J., Jong, K.L., Livesley, W.J., & MacBeth, T.M. (2000). Genetic and environmental influences on adult attachment styles. Personal Relationships, 7, 283–289. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2000.tb00017.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, L., & Chung, S. (2007). Loneliness, social connectedness, and family income among undergraduate females and males in Taiwan. Social Behavior and Personality, 35 (10), 1353–1364. doi:org/10.2224/sbp.2007.35.10.1353CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collins, W.A., Welsh, D.P., & Furman, W. (2009). Adolescent romantic relationships. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 631–652. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.58.4.644CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cushman, P. (1995). Constructing the self, constructing America. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.Google Scholar
Çelik, S.B. (2007). Family function levels of Turkish fathers with children aged between 0-6. Social Behavior and Personality, 35 (4), 429–442. doi:org/10.2224/sbp.2007.35.4.429CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Demir, A. (1989). UCLA Yalnızlık Ölçeğinin geçerlik ve güvenirliği [The Validity and Reliability of UCLA Loneliness Scale]. Psikoloji Dergisi, 7 (23), 14–18.Google Scholar
Demir, A. (1990). Üniversite öğrencilerinin yalnızlık düzeylerini etkileyen bazı etmenler [Some factors that influence the loneliness level of college student]. Unpublished PhD thesis, Hacettepe University.Google Scholar
Deniz, M.E., Hamarta, E., & Arı, R. (2005). An investigation of social skills and loneliness levels of university students with respect to their attachment styles in a sample of Turkish students. Social Behavior and Personality, 33 (1), 19–32. doi:org/10.2224/sbp.2005.33.1.19CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DiTommaso, E., Brannen, C., & Burgess, M. (2005). The universality of relationship characteristics: A cross-cultural comparison of different types of attachment and loneliness in Canadian and visiting Chinese students. Social Behavior and Personality, 33 (1), 57–68. doi:10.2224/sbp.2005.33.1.57CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DiTommaso, E., McNulthy, C.B., Ross, L., & Burgess, M. (2003). Attachment styles, social skills and loneliness in young adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 303–312. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00190-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dykstra, P.A., & de Jong Gierveld, J. (2004). Gender and marital-history differences in emotional and social loneliness among Dutch older adults. Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, 23, 141–155 doi:10.1353/cja.2004.0018CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feeney, J.A. (2006). Parental attachment and conflict behavior: Implications of offspring's attachment, loneliness and relationship satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 13, 19–36. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2006.00102.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feeney, J.A., & Noller, P. (1990). Attachment style as a predictor of adult romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 140 (2), 258–261. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.78.2.350Google Scholar
Fraley, R.C., Waller, N.G., & Brennan, K.A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 350–365. doi:org/10.1037//0022-3514.78.2.350CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gezer, Z.Ü. (2001). The relationship between attachment styles of adolescents and their family environments. Unpublished masters thesis, Middle East Technical University, Ankara.Google Scholar
Girgin, G. (2009). Evaluation of the factors affecting loneliness and hopelessness among university students in Turkey. Social Behavior and Personality, 37 (6), 811–818. doi:10.2224/sbp.2009.37.6.811CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gülerce, A. (1996). Türkiye'de ailelerin psikolojik örüntüleri [Psychological frame of Turkish families]. İstanbul: Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Yayınları.Google Scholar
Güngör, D. (1996). Turkish university students’ relationships with their friends and families: Social support, satisfaction and loneliness. Unpublished masters thesis, Middle East Technical University, Ankara.Google Scholar
Gürsoy, F., & Bıçakcı, M.Y. (2007). A comparison of parental attitude perceptions in children of working and nonworking mothers. Social Behavior & Personality, 35 (5), 693–706. doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2007.35.5.693CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hecht, D.T., & Baum, S.K. (1984). Loneliness and attachment patterns in young adults. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40 (1), 290–296.3.0.CO;2-2>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Herzberg, D.S., & Hammen, C. (1999). Attachment cognitions predict perceived and enacted social support during late adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Research, 14, 387–405. doi:10.1177/0743558499144001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hojat, M. (1982). Loneliness as a function of parent-child and peer relations. The Journal of Psychology, 112, 129–133. doi:10.1080/00223980.1982.9923545CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hsu, L.R., Hailey, B.J., & Range, L.M. (2001). Cultural and emotional components of loneliness and depression. The Journal of Psychology, 121 (1), 61–70. doi:org/10.1080/00223980.1987.9712644CrossRefGoogle Scholar
İmamoğlu, E.O. (2003). Individuation and relatedness: Not opposing, but distinct and complementary. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 129, 367–402.Google ScholarPubMed
İmamoğlu, E.O., Günaydın, G., & Selçuk, E. (2011). Özgün benliğin yordayıcıları olarak kendileşme ve ilişkililik: Cinsiyetin ve kültürel yönelimlerin ötesinde. [Individuation and relatedness as predictors of the authentic self: Beyond gender and cultural orientations]. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 26 (67), 27–43.Google Scholar
Jackson, L.A., Ervin, K.S., Gardner, P.D., & Schmitt, N. (2001). Gender and the internet: Women communicating and men searching. Sex Roles, 44 (5), 363–379.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jakobsson, U., & Hallberg, I.R. (2005). Loneliness, fear, and guilty of life among elderly in Sweden: A gender perspective. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 17 (6), 494–501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, H.D., LaVoie, J.C., & Mahoney, M. (2001). Interparental conflict and family cohesion. Predictors of loneliness, social anxiety, and social avoidance in late adolescent. Journal of Adolescent Research, 16 (3), 304–318. doi:10.1177/0743558401163004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jong-Gierveld, J. (1987). Developing and testing a model of loneliness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53 (1), 119–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jordaan, J. (2004). Moraliteit as voorspeller van eensaamheid by adolessente: ‘n Kruiskulturele studie. [Morality as a predictor of loneliness in adolescents: A cross-cultural study]. Curationis, 27, 81–93.Google Scholar
Junttila, N., & Vauras, M. (2009). Development and aging: Loneliness among school-aged children and their parents. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 50, 211–219. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9450.2009.00715.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Junttila, N., Vauras, M., & Laakkonen, E. (2007). The role of parenting self-efficacy in children's social and academic behavior. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 22, 41–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç. (2005). Autonomy and relatedness in cultural context: Implication for self and family. Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology, 36, 403–422. doi:10.1177/0022022105275959CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç. (2010). Benlik, aile ve insan gelişimi: Kültürel psikoloji. İstanbul: Koç Üniversitesi Yayınları.Google Scholar
Kafetsios, K., & Sideridis, G.D. (2006). Attachment, social support, and well-being in young and older adults. Journal of Health Psychology, 11, 863–876. doi:10.1177/1359105306069084CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kobak, R.R., & Sceery, A. (1988). Attachment in late adolescence: Working models, affect regulation, and representations of self and others. Child Development, 59, 135–146. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.ep10514122CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kraus, L.A., Davis, M.H., Bazzini, D., Church, M., & Kirchman, C.M. (1993). Personal and social influences on loneliness: The mediating effect of social provision. Social Psychology Quarterly, 56 (1), 37–53. doi:org/10.2307/2786644CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laible, D. (2007). Attachment with parents and peers in late adolescence: Links with emotional competence and social behavior. Personal Individual differences, 43, 1185–1197. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2007.03.010CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levin, I., & Stokes, J.P. (1986). An examination of the relation of individual difference variables to loneliness. Journal of Personality, 54 (4), 717–733.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Landman-Peeters, K.M.C., Ormel, J., van Sonderen, E.L.P., den Boer, J.A., Minderaa, R.B., & Hartman, C.A. (2008). Risk of emotional disorder in offspring of depressed parents: Gender differences in the effect of a second emotionally affected parent. Depression and Anxiety, 25, 653–660. doi:10.1002/da.20350CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Le Roux, A. (2009). The relationship between adolescents’ attitudes toward their fathers and loneliness: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Child and Family Studies,18, 291–226. doi:10.1007/s10826-008-9222-1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Medora, N., Woodward, J., & Larson, J. (1987). Adolescent loneliness: A cross-cultural comparison of Americans and Asian Indians. International Journal of Sociology of the Family, 22, 55–66. doi:10.1177/002071528702800306Google Scholar
Murray, J., & Murray, L. (2010). Parental incarceration, attachment, and child psychopathology. Attachment & Human Development, 12, 289–309. doi:10.1080/14751790903416889CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Norman, R.S., & DeWayne, M. (1986). The loneliness experience of college students: Sex difference. Psychology Bulletin, 1, 111–119. doi:10.1177/0146167286121011Google Scholar
Peplau, L.A., & Perlman, D. (1984). Loneliness research: A survey of empirical findings. In Peplau, L.A. & Goldston, S.E. (Eds.), Preventing the harmful consequences of severe and persistent loneliness (pp. 13–47). Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health.Google Scholar
Rokach, A. (2007). The effect of age and culture on the causes of loneliness. Social Behavior and Personality, 35 (2), 169–186. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2007.35.2.169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rokach, A., & Bauer, N. (2004). Age, culture, and loneliness among Czechs and Canadians. Current Psychology: Developmental, Learning, Personality, Social, 23 (1), 3–23. doi:10.1007/s12144-004-1005-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rook, K.S. (1988). Promoting social bonding. American Psychologist, 39, 1389–1407. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.39.12.1389CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, D., Peplau, L.A., & Cutrona, C.E. (1980). The revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: Concurrent and discriminant validity evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 472–480. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.39.3.472.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sadler, W.A. (1980). From loneliness to anomia. In Hartog, J., Audy, R.J., & Cohen, Y.A. (Eds.), The anatomy of loneliness (pp. 34–64). New York: International University Press.Google Scholar
Schneider, K.J. (1998). Toward a science of the heart: romanticism and the revival of psychology. American Psychologist, 53 (3), 277–289. doi:10.1037//0003-066X.53.3.277CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Selçuk, E., Günaydın, G., Sümer, N., & Uysal, A. (2005). Çocuk yetiştirme stillerinin bağlanma stilleri, benlik değerlendirmeleri ve yakın ilişkiler üzerindeki etkisi [The impact of perceived parenting styles on attachment styles]. Türk Psikoloji Yazıları, 8 (16), 1–11.Google Scholar
Sermat, V. (1980). Some situational and personality correlates of loneliness. In Hartoz, J., Andy, J.R., & Cohen, Y.A. (Eds.), The autonomy of loneliness (pp. 305–318). New York: International University Press.Google Scholar
Seepersad, S., Choi, M., & Shin, N. (2008). How does culture influence the degree of romantic loneliness and closeness? The Journal of Psychology, 142 (2), 209–216. doi:10.3200/JRLP.142.2.209-220CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Solomon, S.M. (2000). Childhood loneliness: Implications and intervention considerations for family therapists. The Family Journal, 8, 161–164. doi:10.1177/1066480700082008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sunar, D. (2002). Change and continuity in the Turkish middle class family. In Ozdalga, E. & Liljestrom, R. (Eds.), Autonomy and dependence in family: Turkey and Sweden in critical perspective (pp. 217–237). İstanbul: Swedish Research Institute.Google Scholar
Tabachnick, B.G., & Fidel, L.S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th ed.). Munich: Pearson Education.Google Scholar
Toivonen, S., Salmela-Aro, K., & Eronen, S. (1997). Social strategies and loneliness. The Journal of Social Psychology, 137 (6), 764–117.Google Scholar
Terrell, F., Terrell, I.S., & Von Drashek, S.R. (2000). Loneliness and fear of intimacy among adolescents who were taught not to trust strangers during childhood. Adolescence, 35 (140), 611–617.Google Scholar
Uruk, C.A., & Demir, A. (2003). The role of peers and families in predicting the loneliness level of adolescents. The Journal of Psychology, 137 (2), 179–193. doi:10.1080/00223980309600607CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vasta, R., Miller, S.A., & Ellis, S. (2004). Child psychology (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Van Ijzendoorn, M.H., & Kroonberg, P.M. (1988). Cross-cultural patterns of attachment: A meta-analysis of the strange situation. Child Development, 59, 147–156. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1988.tb03202.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weiss, R.S. (1987). Reflections on the present state of loneliness research. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 2 (2), 1–16.Google Scholar
Wiseman, H., & Guttfreund, D.G. (1995). Gender differences in loneliness and depression of university students seeking counseling. British Journal of Guidance and Counseling, 23 (2), 231–245. doi:10.1080/03069889500760241CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Woodward, J., & Frank, B.D. (1988). Rural adolescent loneliness and coping strategies. Adolescence, 23, 559–565.Google ScholarPubMed