Zhou Tong, Liao Longyue, Nguyen Thuy-Vy T, Li Dan, Liu Junsheng
School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom.
Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jul 6;14:1173441. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1173441. eCollection 2023.
From the perspective of person-centered research, the present study aimed to identify the potential profiles of solitude among late adolescents based on their solitary behavior, motivation, attitude, and time alone. In addition, to echo the paradox of solitude, we further explored the links between solitude profiles and adjustment outcomes.
The participants of the study were 355 late adolescents (56.34% female, = 19.71 years old) at three universities in Shanghai, China. Measures of solitary behavior, autonomous motivation for solitude, attitude toward being alone, and time spent alone were collected using adolescents' self-report assessments. The UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Basic Psychological Needs Scales were measured as indices of adjustment.
Latent profile analysis revealed four distinct groups: absence of the aloneness group (21.13%), the positive motivational solitude group (29.01%), the negative motivational solitude group (38.03%), and the activity-oriented solitude group (11.83%). Differences emerged among these four groups in terms of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and basic needs satisfaction, with adolescents in the negative motivational solitude group facing the most risk of psychological maladjustment.
Findings revealed the possible heterogeneous nature of solitude among Chinese late adolescents and provided a theoretical basis for further understanding of adolescents' solitary state.
从以人为本的研究视角出发，本研究旨在根据青少年的独处行为、动机、态度和独处时间，确定青少年晚期独处的潜在类型。此外，为呼应独处的悖论，我们进一步探讨了独处类型与适应结果之间的联系。
本研究的参与者为中国上海三所大学的355名青少年晚期学生（女性占56.34%，平均年龄=19.71岁）。通过青少年自我报告评估收集独处行为、独处的自主动机、对独处的态度以及独处时间的测量数据。使用加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独量表、贝克抑郁量表和基本心理需求量表作为适应指标进行测量。
潜在剖面分析揭示了四个不同的群体：无独处感组（21.13%）、积极动机独处组（29.01%）、消极动机独处组（38.03%）和活动导向独处组（11.83%）。这四个群体在孤独感、抑郁症状和基本需求满足方面存在差异，消极动机独处组的青少年面临心理适应不良的风险最大。
研究结果揭示了中国青少年晚期独处可能具有的异质性，并为进一步理解青少年的独处状态提供了理论基础。
