The Relations Between Types of Loneliness, Depressive Symptoms, and Life Satisfaction in Early Adolescence in Indonesia: Exploring the Moderating Role of Parenting and Peer Social Support

Loneliness in early adolescence is linked to poor well-being, including higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction. This study examined whether maternal and paternal strength-based or unsupportive parenting, and peer social support, moderated the effects of social and emotional loneliness on depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Each loneliness type was studied within family and peer contexts. Data from 761 Indonesian adolescents (54.3% girls; M = 12.68, SD = 0.43) shows that paternal and maternal unsupportive parenting intensified the negative impact of social loneliness in family relationships on depressive symptoms. Peer social support buffered the effects of both types of loneliness in peer contexts on depressive symptoms. Strength-based parenting showed no moderating effects, and no significant findings emerged for life satisfaction. These findings underscore the need to differentiate types and relational contexts of loneliness and provide insights into the role of peer support, maternal and paternal parenting in adolescent mental health in Indonesia.