Abstract
This paper examined the role of loneliness in mediating the relation between social support and life satisfaction among Chinese young adults within the Malaysian context. Young adults (N = 275; Mage = 22.41; SD = 1.76; 57.5% females) completed self-administered questionnaires on the scales of perceived social support, loneliness and life satisfaction. The results of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed a partial mediation effect of loneliness on the relation between social support and life satisfaction. The integration of the bottom-up theory of subjective well-being and social cognitive theory is included to explain the mediating process. The results revealed that perceived social support can relate to a lower level of loneliness, which could eventually lead to higher levels of young adults’ life satisfaction. Overall, the findings highlighted the importance of social support as well as their loneliness as a mediating pathway in promoting Malaysian Chinese young adults’ life satisfaction. Interventions are also suggested to optimize life satisfaction as a whole.
Acknowledgments
The authors would also like to thank the guest editor and anonymous reviewers for their contribution to this review.
Disclosure statement
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
This is a self-funded research.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Su-Wan Gan
Su-Wan Gan is an assistant professor at the Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia. She obtained her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. Her research interest is on developmental psychology, family studies, and child and adolescent development outcomes.
Lean Suat Ong
Lean Suat Ong is a practicing mental health consultant who is currently doing her Doctoral studies in Psychology at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia. Her research interest includes gerontology, women’s studies, positive psychology and health. She is also a published author of two self-help books.
Choy Hua Lee
Choy Hua Lee was an undergraduate student who studies Bachelor degree (Hons) in Psychology at Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. Her research interest is on life satisfaction, social support and loneliness.
Yee Sin Lin
Yee Sin Lin was an undergraduate student who studies Bachelor degree (Hons) in Psychology at Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. His research interest is on life satisfaction, social support and loneliness.