The Link Between Peer Acceptance and Loneliness in Adolescence

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dc.contributor.advisorCassidy, Jude
dc.contributor.authorGodin, Shira
dc.contributor.authorKim, Hannah
dc.contributor.authorMcCormick, Katherine
dc.contributor.authorTrujillo, Amanda
dc.contributor.authorFitter, Megan
dc.contributor.authorAwao, Sayaka
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-17T13:29:13Z
dc.date.available2022-08-17T13:29:13Z
dc.date.issued2022-04
dc.description.abstractResearch supports that greater peer acceptance in adolescence relates to lower reports of loneliness (Woodhouse et al., 2011). Secure attachment can buffer against adolescent loneliness (Bernardon et al., 2011), and research supports a negative relation between attachment security and loneliness in adolescence (Al-Yagon et al., 2016). The current study examined the link between peer acceptance and loneliness during adolescence and examined attachment style dimensions as moderators. We hypothesized that low peer acceptance would predict greater loneliness, and that low attachment anxiety (fear of rejection and abandonment) and avoidance (fear of closeness and depending on others) would both buffer against this link. Participants (N = 2100) were 11th grade students (61.2% female, 65.1% Caucasian, 15.3% African American, 15% Asian, 4.5% Hispanic). The students completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (Brennan et al., 1998), the Adolescence Loneliness Scale (Cassidy & Woodhouse, 1997), and the Peer Acceptance Assessment (Asher & Dodge, 1986). There was a negative effect of peer acceptance on loneliness (β = -0.257, p < .001), such that when peer acceptance increased, feelings of loneliness decreased. There was no significant interaction between attachment anxiety (β = 0.007, p = .712) or avoidance (β = -0.006, p = .772) and peer acceptance in predicting loneliness. Although our results support the role of peer acceptance in predicting loneliness, our analyses did not support the moderating role of attachment. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting prosocial behaviors that facilitate peer acceptance to minimize adolescents’ loneliness.en_US
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.13016/c2oa-vwpr
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/29090
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtCollege of Behavioral & Social Sciencesen_us
dc.relation.isAvailableAtPsychologyen_us
dc.relation.isAvailableAtDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_us
dc.relation.isAvailableAtUniversity of Maryland (College Park, MD)en_us
dc.titleThe Link Between Peer Acceptance and Loneliness in Adolescenceen_US
dc.typePresentationen_US

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