Social and Personal Factors in Loneliness

Data were provided by 140 college students on loneliness, features of social support networks, and personal characteristics thought to inhibit social interaction or the development of relationships. Loneliness was related to both quantitative and qualitative features of social support networks and was also associated with personal characteristics, particularly those thought to inhibit the development of close relationships. However, the relationship between personal characteristics and loneliness was not mediated to any large degree by social network factors, suggesting that personal and social factors are somewhat independent influences on loneliness.