Jost Geneva M, Hang Sally, Wysocki Anna C, Rhemtulla Mijke, Robins Richard W, Hostinar Camelia E
Psychology Department, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2025 Jun;1548(1):163-180. doi: 10.1111/nyas.15348. Epub 2025 May 1.
Loneliness is a pressing public health concern, particularly among adolescents and young adults. This preregistered study examined changes in time spent alone from 7th to 12th grade, as well as relationship and personality predictors of time spent alone in adolescence and loneliness in early adulthood, using data from a longitudinal study of 674 Mexican-origin youth in the United States, a rapidly growing yet understudied demographic. Time spent alone showed linear increases from 7th to 12th grade, with greater increases in time spent alone in high school for youth who spent a high proportion of time alone at the start of high school (9th grade). Greater time spent alone in 9th grade was significantly predicted by gender, lower peer relationship quality, parent-child support, parental warmth, higher parent-child conflict, parental hostility, and youth neuroticism. However, there were no significant predictors of change in time spent alone throughout the course of high school (from 9th to 12th grade). Lastly, loneliness in young adulthood was predicted by spending a high proportion of time alone, higher neuroticism, and lower extraversion in the 9th grade. Thus, time spent alone in adolescence may be a crucial early indicator of later loneliness.
孤独是一个紧迫的公共卫生问题，在青少年和青年中尤为突出。这项预先注册的研究利用对美国674名墨西哥裔青年进行的纵向研究数据，考察了从7年级到12年级独自度过的时间的变化，以及青少年独自度过的时间和成年早期孤独感的关系及人格预测因素。美国的墨西哥裔青年群体增长迅速但研究不足。独自度过的时间从7年级到12年级呈线性增加，对于在高中开始时（9年级）独自度过时间比例较高的青少年，高中阶段独自度过的时间增加得更多。9年级时独自度过的时间更多，这受到性别、较低的同伴关系质量、亲子支持、父母温暖程度、较高的亲子冲突、父母敌意以及青少年神经质的显著预测。然而，在整个高中阶段（从9年级到12年级），独自度过时间的变化没有显著的预测因素。最后，成年早期的孤独感可由9年级时独自度过的时间比例较高、较高的神经质和较低的外向性预测。因此，青少年时期独自度过的时间可能是后期孤独感的一个关键早期指标。
