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Self-concept, loneliness, and voluntary aloneness during late childhood

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Abstract

Self-concept, defined as individuals’ ideas about their own competences, can be formed by significant external evaluations or internal attributions of one’s characteristics. Many studies have investigated the relationships between loneliness as a painful feeling arising from a lack of social support and self-concept in late childhood without distinguishing specific domains of competence; no studies have been carried out on the potential role of positive uses of voluntary aloneness in late childhood self-concepts. The main aim of the present study is to explore the relationships between self-concept domains, loneliness, attitudes toward aloneness, and uses of voluntary aloneness in late childhood. Measures of loneliness, attitudes toward aloneness, voluntary aloneness, and self-concept were collected in a sample of 267 (126 males) 8- to 10-year-old Italian children. Our results showed that global self-concept was significantly negatively associated with peer-and parent-related loneliness and positively associated with aversion to aloneness. Moreover, self-concept in the parental domain was strongly negatively associated with parent-related loneliness and voluntary aloneness for autonomy and positively associated with voluntary aloneness for concentration. Self-perception in the peer domain was negatively associated with peer- and parent-related loneliness and positively associated with aversion to aloneness and voluntary aloneness for activity. Finally, the academic self-concept was negatively associated with parent-related loneliness and positively associated with voluntary aloneness for concentration. The data were discussed in the light of developmental tasks of late childhood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Borgo Carissimi 10, 43121, Parma, Italy

    Paola Corsano, Alessandro Musetti & Debora Favari

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  1. Paola Corsano
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  2. Alessandro Musetti
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  3. Debora Favari
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Contributions

PC proposed the design of the study, assisted with data analyses, wrote the introduction and the discussion of the paper and edited the final manuscript. AM collaborated to the design of the study and to the editing of the final manuscript, analyzed the data and wrote the results section. DF collected the data, assisted with the data analyses and contributed to writing some sections of the paper.

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Correspondence to Paola Corsano.

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The authors declare that they have not conflict of interest. In particular, they certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest, or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Corsano, P., Musetti, A. & Favari, D. Self-concept, loneliness, and voluntary aloneness during late childhood. Curr Psychol 41, 1414–1424 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00675-7

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