Adolescent Interpersonal Relationship Quantity and Quality, Belongingness and Loneliness

Abstract

Adolescence is a time of experiencing widespread and particularly intense feelings of loneliness. This study investigated how the quantity and quality of evolving interpersonal relationships affect adolescent feelings of belongingness to family, friends, and romantic partners, and moreover, how such relationships influence their feelings of loneliness. A total of 479 adolescents aged between 12 and 22 from a middle school, a senior high school, and a university participated in the study. A quantitative approach using structural equation modeling was employed to address the appropriateness of the hypothetical adolescent loneliness model from the perspective of belongingness. The results indicated that the hypothetical model was reliable for assessing loneliness during the three stages (early, middle, and late) of adolescence. The study found that the interaction between the quality and quantity of adolescents’ interpersonal relationships with family members contributed to their feelings of belongingness to family. Similarly, interaction between relationship quality and quantity with a best friend contributed to adolescents’ feelings of belongingness to their friends. Moreover, feelings of belongingness to family and friends were associated with decreased adolescents’ level of loneliness. However, the results from multiple group modeling failed to demonstrate predicted differences between adolescents’ feelings of loneliness and belongingness to family and friends for the three stages of adolescence. As regards adolescents’ feelings of belongingness to family, the interaction between relationship quantity and quality with one’s father was more important for middle and late adolescents than for early adolescents. The findings of this study also had relevance for the individuation process of adolescence. The pursuit of friendships and romantic partners, including their increased appreciation of these relationships, was achieved without loss of connection with family members.