Friendship quantity and gender as moderators of COVID-19 related loneliness of adolescents
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2022-07-01
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en
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially affected adolescents due to the restrictions in
social contact (Singh & Singh, 2020). The current study investigated whether adolescents
have become lonelier during the COVID-19 pandemic and if this is moderated by friendship
quantity and gender. In total, 225 adolescents participated in this study (112 female, Age: M =
15.17, SD = .75). Data was collected before the COVID-19 pandemic (2019), and during the
pandemic (2020 and 2021). Findings show no significant changes in loneliness before and
during the pandemic. Friendship quantity did not significantly moderate changes in
loneliness. However, gender did moderate changes in loneliness. Results indicated that
females increased in reports of loneliness during the first year of the pandemic, whereas males
do not increase. This difference was not found in the assessments during the pandemic.
Explanations for these results, as well as limitations and strengths of the current study, are
discussed.
Keywords: COVID-19, loneliness, friendship quantity, adolescents
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen