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Living Alone but Not Feeling Lonely: The Effect of Self-Concealment on Perceived Social Support of Youth Living Alone in China

Author

Listed:
  • Linran Zhang

    (School of Education Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221000, China)

  • Xiaoyue Fan

    (School of Education Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221000, China)

  • Zhanyu Yu

    (School of Education Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221000, China)

Abstract

The current study explored the mechanism of self-concealment on perceived social support among youth living alone and tried to clarify the two mediating variables, which are “psychological needs met through internet gratification” and “social self-esteem”, by using the Self-Concealment Scale, the Psychological Needs met through Internet Gratification Scale, the Texas Social Behavior Inventory and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Four hundred thirty-three working youth living alone who have lived alone or shared no emotional intersection with others were chosen as participants in this study. The results showed that: (1) the correlation between self-concealment, perceived social support, psychological needs met via internet gratification and social self-esteem was significant; (2) self-concealment positively predicted perceived social support; (3) self-concealment indirectly predicted perceived social support through the chain mediating effect of “psychological needs met via internet gratification” and “social self-esteem”. These results indicated that the self-concealment of youth living alone had a predictive effect on the perceived social support. The mechanisms of this effect included the direct effect of self-concealment and indirect effect through “psychological needs met via internet gratification” and “social self-esteem”.

Suggested Citation

  • Linran Zhang & Xiaoyue Fan & Zhanyu Yu, 2022. "Living Alone but Not Feeling Lonely: The Effect of Self-Concealment on Perceived Social Support of Youth Living Alone in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:13805-:d:951357
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qinglin Wang & Zhaoyang Xin & Hang Zhang & Jing Du & Minghui Wang, 2022. "The Effect of the Supervisor–Student Relationship on Academic Procrastination: The Chain-Mediating Role of Academic Self-Efficacy and Learning Adaptation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-9, February.
    2. Klinenberg, E., 2016. "Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Living Alone: Identifying the Risks for Public Health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(5), pages 786-787.
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