Cross-lagged analysis of the effect of adolescent loneliness on collective responsibility and self-improvement values

A cross-lagged study design was used to explore the influence of loneliness on adolescent values. The Chinese Adolescent Values Questionnaire and the Loneliness Scale were both administered twice, 1 year apart, to 403 7th and 11th graders living in Shanghai. The results showed that overall, loneliness at Time 1 (T1) significantly negatively predicted the adolescent values of collective responsibility (CR) and self-improvement (SI) at Time 2 (T2). Furthermore, differences were found in the adolescents’ relationship between loneliness and SI according to gender and age. Specifically, 7th graders’ SI at T1 negatively predicted their loneliness at T2, while 11th graders’ SI at T1 positively predicted their loneliness at T2. Additionally, boys’ loneliness at T1 significantly negatively predicted their SI at T2. These results suggest the possible role of loneliness in reducing adolescent identification with the values of CR and SI. Educators should pay attention to changes in adolescent values and provide them with education and guidance to prevent them experiencing chronic loneliness. Researchers should also be more sensitive to the development of values during adolescence, particularly those of specific ages or genders, such as in older males.