Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Loneliness and Self-Esteem as Mediators Between Social Support and Life Satisfaction in Late Adolescence

  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined both the mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem for the relationship between social support and life satisfaction. Three hundred and eighty nine Chinese college students, ranging in age from 17 to 25 (M = 20.39), completed the emotional and social loneliness scale, the self-esteem scale, the satisfaction with life scale and measure of social support. Structural equation modeling showed full mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem between social support and life satisfaction. The final model also revealed a significant path from social support through loneliness and self-esteem to life satisfaction. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis found that the paths did not differ across sexes. The findings provided the external validity for the full mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem and valuable evidence for more complicated relations among the variables.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akaike, H. (1987). Factor analysis and AIC. Psychometrika, 52, 317–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 411–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Argyle, M., & Lu, L. (1990). The happiness of extroverts. Personality and Individual Differences, 11, 1011–1017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M. (2001). Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cacioppo, J. T., Hawkley, L. C., Ernst, J. M., Burleson, M., Berntson, G. G., Nouriani, B., et al. (2006). Loneliness within a nomological net: An evolutionary perspective. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 1054–1085.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Civitci, N., & Civitci, A. (2009). Self-esteem as mediator and moderator of the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction in adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 47, 954–958.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, H., Okamura, L., & Gurka, V. (1992). Social activity and subjective well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 13, 573–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corwyn, R. F. (2000). The factor structure of global self-esteem among adolescents and adults. Journal of Research in Personality, 34, 357–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (1996). Traits can be powerful, but are not enough: Lessons from subjective well-being. Journal of Research in Personality, 30, 389–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Diener, M. (1995). Cross-cultural correlates of life satisfaction and self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 653–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Seligman, E. (2002). Very happy people. Psychological Science, 13(1), 81–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emmons, R. A., & Diener, E. (1985). Personality correlates of subjective well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 11, 89–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frazier, P. A., Tix, A. P., & Barron, K. E. (2004). Testing moderator and mediator effects in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 115–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, R., & Huebner, E. S. (2003). A review of life satisfaction research with children and adolescents. School Psychology Quarterly, 18, 192–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, R., & Huebner, E. S. (2006). Characteristics of adolescents who report very high life satisfaction. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35, 293–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenspoon, P. J., & Saklofske, D. H. (2001). Toward an integration of subjective well-being and psychopathology. Social Indicators Research, 54, 81–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Laughlin, J. E., Ash, C., & Gilman, R. (1998). Further validation of the multidimensional students’ life satisfaction scale. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 16, 118–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Suldo, S. M., Valois, R. F., Drane, J. W., & Zullig, K. J. (2004). Brief multidimensional students’ life satisfaction scale: Sex, race, and grade effects in a high school sample. Psychological Reports, 94, 351–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K. G., & Sörbom, D. (1996). LISREL 8: User’s reference guide. Chicago, IL: Scientific Software International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, L. W., & Liang, J. (2007). Social exchanges and subjective well-being among older Chinese: Does age make a difference? Psychology and Aging, 22, 386–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahon, N. E., Yarcheski, A., Yarcheski, T. J., Cannella, B. L., & Hanks, M. M. (2006). A meta-analytic study of predictors for loneliness during adolescence. Nursing Research, 55, 308–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McWhirter, B. T., Tricia, M., Besett-Alesch, T. M., Horibata, J., & Gat, I. (2002). Loneliness in high risk adolescents: The role of coping, self-esteem, and empathy. Journal of Youth Studies, 5, 69–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neto, F. (2002). Loneliness and acculturation among adolescents from immigrant families in Portugal. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 630–647.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). Review of the satisfaction with life scale. Psychological Assessment, 5, 164–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., Silbereisen, R. K., & Juang, L. P. (2004). Moderating effects of adolescents’ self-efficacy beliefs on psychological responses to social change. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19, 340–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quintana, S. M., & Maxwell, S. E. (1999). Implications of recent development in structural equation modeling for counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 27, 485–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sedikides, C., Rudich, E. A., Gregg, A. P., Kumashiro, M., & Rusbult, C. (2004). Are normal narcissists psychologically healthy? Self-esteem matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 400–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaver, P. R., & Brennan, K. A. (1991). Measures of depression and loneliness. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skok, A., Harvey, D., & Reddihough, D. (2006). Perceived stress, perceived social support, and wellbeing among mothers of school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31, 53–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stroebe, W., Stroebe, M., Abakoumkin, G., & Schut, H. (1996). The role of loneliness and social support in adjustment to loss: A test of attachment versus stress theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 20, 1241–1249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suldo, S. M., & Huebner, E. S. (2006). Is extremely high life satisfaction during adolescence advantageous? Social Indicators Research, 78, 179–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tam, K. P., Lau, H. P., Jiang, D. (2010). Culture and subjective well-Being: A dynamic constructivist view. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. doi:10.1177/0022022110388568.

  • Tan, H. Z., Luo, Y. J., Wen, S. W., Liu, A. Z., Li, S. Q., & Yang, T. B. (2004). The effect of a disastrous flood on the quality of life in Dongting Lake Area in China. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 16, 126–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. D., Wang, X. L., & Ma, H. (1999). Rating scales for mental health: Social support rating scale. China, BJ: The Journal of Chinese Psychological Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yarcheski, A., Mahon, N. E., & Yarcheski, T. J. (2001). Social support and well-being in early adolescents: The role of mediating variables. Clinical Nursing Research, 10, 163–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L., & Leung, J. (2002). Moderating effects of gender and age on the relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction in mainland Chinese. International Journal of Psychology, 37, 83–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

    Feng Kong & Xuqun You

Authors
  1. Feng Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xuqun You
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xuqun You.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kong, F., You, X. Loneliness and Self-Esteem as Mediators Between Social Support and Life Satisfaction in Late Adolescence. Soc Indic Res 110, 271–279 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9930-6

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9930-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation