Dissertation
Emerging adult loneliness, basic psychological needs, and well-being: theoretical and empirical implications
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2021
DOI: 10.17077/etd.006078
Abstract
The prevalence and impact of loneliness have been growing over the last decade (Bruce at al., 2019; Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010) giving rise to a call for public awareness and societal programs for vulnerable populations by the United States and other nations (e.g., UK’s Minister of loneliness; Yang & Victor, 2011). Emerging adults, a developmental group characterized by instability and self-focus (Arnett, 2014), are disproportionally affected by loneliness (Bruce et al., 2019), which reduces well-being (Wei, Russell, & Zakalik, 2005). To date, there has been limited investigation into whether loneliness plays a role related to well-being maintenance (i.e., service utilization) as well as how loneliness fluctuates over time and its relationship to romantic relationship satisfaction and well-being. Chapter two of this dissertation explores the relationship between loneliness, and other associated factors, and emerging adult well-being service utilization as well as barriers to service utilization. A sample of 292 emerging adults from a large Midwestern University was utilized to conduct a pair of logistic regressions, linear regression, and set of analyses of variance. Findings indicated that several factors increased the likelihood of service utilization (i.e., depression and friends social support), while others contributed to a decrease in service utilization likelihood (i.e., competence and relatedness satisfaction). Greater relatedness and competence satisfaction was related to fewer barriers to service utilization, while less autonomy satisfaction was related to more barriers to service utilization. Additionally, when compared to low levels of loneliness, higher loneliness was related to more barriers to service utilization, suggesting loneliness is a nuanced factor for emerging adult barriers to service utilization (e.g., less about prevalence, more about severity).
Chapter three investigates the periodicity (e.g., fluctuation) in emerging adult loneliness and pathways to well-being. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) identify the temporal nature of emotional loneliness to better explain periodicity/fluctuation in emerging adult loneliness, 2) investigate the bidirectional relationships that loneliness (e.g., negative experience) and need satisfaction (e.g., positive experience) share with relationship satisfaction within romantic relationships and emerging adult well-being. An online survey was conducted yielding a sample of 258 emerging adults, 210 of which were utilized in spectral analysis, from a large Midwestern University. Unique analytic techniques (i.e., spectral and cross spectral analysis) as well as structural equation modeling were utilized to examine survey data. Findings indicated that emerging adults fluctuate in their romantic and familial loneliness levels between 5 to 15 days, while emerging adult couples (n = 24) fluctuate in unison for a number of different time periods. This study’s findings highlight the emotional and temporal facets of loneliness and how emerging adult need satisfaction is associated with well-being. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Emerging adult loneliness, basic psychological needs, and well-being: theoretical and empirical implications
- Creators
- Kevin M Smith
- Contributors
- Kayla Fitzke (Advisor)Jacob B Priest (Committee Member)Armeda Wojciak (Committee Member)Megan Foley Nicpon (Committee Member)Nathan Wood (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
- Date degree season
- Spring 2021
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.006078
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- x, 126 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2021 Kevin M Smith
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- illustrations (some color)
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 110-126).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Young adults, a developmental group characterized by instability and self-focus, are disproportionally affected by loneliness, which reduces well-being. Limited research has been done regarding young adults’ loneliness. The goal is this dissertation was to better identify how loneliness is related to young adult well-being. Chapter two explored how loneliness and other factors were related to 292 young adults’ service utilization (SU) and barriers to service utilization (BSU). Findings indicated several factors (i.e., depression and friends social support) increased the likelihood of SU, while others (i.e., basic psychological need satisfaction) decreased the likelihood of SU. Need satisfaction was also related to the number of BSU. Finally, higher levels of loneliness was related to more BSU, suggesting that severity of loneliness is an important factor for young adult BSU. Chapter three investigated the fluctuation of emotional loneliness among 210 young adults’ and pathways to well-being among 258 young adults. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) identify how emotional loneliness changes over short periods of time, 2) investigate relationships between loneliness, relationship satisfaction, and well-being; and another set of relationships using need satisfaction instead of loneliness. Findings indicated young adults fluctuate in their loneliness, with highs then lows for 15 to 5 consecutive days; young adult couples fluctuate in unison across a number of different time periods. This study’s findings detail time-based elements of emotional loneliness and demonstrates how young adult need satisfaction is related to well-being.
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
- Record Identifier
- 9984097171702771
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