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Loneliness and Mental Health: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Social Support

Author

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  • Elody Hutten

    (Department of Clinical Psychology, Open Universiteit, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Ellen M. M. Jongen

    (Department of Clinical Psychology, Open Universiteit, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Anique E. C. C. Vos

    (Department of Clinical and Medical Psychology, Zuyderland Medical Center, 6419 PC Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Anja J. H. C. van den Hout

    (Department of Clinical and Medical Psychology, Zuyderland Medical Center, 6419 PC Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Jacques J. D. M. van Lankveld

    (Department of Clinical Psychology, Open Universiteit, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Social connectedness is a fundamental human need. The Evolutionary Theory of Loneliness (ETL) predicts that a lack of social connectedness has long-term mental and physical health consequences. Social support is a potential mechanism through which loneliness influences health. The present cross-sectional study examined the relationship between loneliness and mental health, and the mediating effects of social support in a Dutch adult sample (N = 187, age 20 to 70). The health variables included in the study are anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms as measured by the SCL-90, and the DSM-5 diagnosis somatic symptom disorder. The results indicated that social support partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms. These results indicate that social support partially explains the relationship between loneliness and physical and mental health issues. The relationship between loneliness and being diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder was not mediated by social support. This suggests that the mechanisms through which loneliness relates to either somatic symptoms or somatic symptom disorder are different.

Suggested Citation

  • Elody Hutten & Ellen M. M. Jongen & Anique E. C. C. Vos & Anja J. H. C. van den Hout & Jacques J. D. M. van Lankveld, 2021. "Loneliness and Mental Health: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:11963-:d:678950
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David M. Cutler & Adriana Lleras-Muney, 2006. "Education and Health: Evaluating Theories and Evidence," NBER Working Papers 12352, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    1. Lavinia Maria Pop & Magdalena Iorga & Raluca Iurcov, 2022. "Body-Esteem, Self-Esteem and Loneliness among Social Media Young Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Marlies Maes & Pamela Qualter & Gerine M. A. Lodder & Marcus Mund, 2022. "How (Not) to Measure Loneliness: A Review of the Eight Most Commonly Used Scales," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-37, August.
    3. Hilmi Mizani & Ani Cahyadi & Hendryadi Hendryadi & Salamah Salamah & Santi Retno Sari, 2022. "Loneliness, student engagement, and academic achievement during emergency remote teaching during COVID-19: the role of the God locus of control," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.

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