Loneliness in Chinese Adolescents: a Comparison of Social Support and Interpersonal Trust in 13 to 19 Year Olds

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate some of the parameters of loneliness of Chinese teenagers. First the Chinese Loneliness Scale (CLS) was developed as a reliable measure of the construct and its psychometric properties examined. Second a study was conducted to determine basic criteria for identifying severe loneliness.

Based on the criteria the scores of 145 lonely and 397 non-lonely middle to late adolescents aged between 13 and 19 years were compared on measures of the extent of their network and the extent of interpersonal needs that were satisfied by others, and an Interpersonal Trust Scale. The results showed lonely youth possessed smaller social networks, had fewer close friends of both sexes, and received less support from their classmates. Generally their interpersonal relationships were less satisfying outside the family, with close friends and classmates, and within their family their relationship only with their father was less satisfying. Generally lonely adolescents showed much less interpersonal trust than their non-lonely counterparts. They were less trusting of authority figures and less optimistic about the trustworthiness of others. While there was a tendency for males and younger teens to express greater loneliness neither gender nor age played a significant role in defining loneliness in Hong Kong youth. The results were discussed especially as they related to culturally induced norms.