The effect of loneliness on depression: A meta-analysis

Evren Erzen and Özkan Çikrikci

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2018, vol. 64, issue 5, 427-435

Abstract: Background: Negative emotions, which have a common, chronic and recurrent structure, play a vital role in the development and maintenance of psychopathology. In this study, loneliness as a negative emotion was considered to be a predisposing factor in depression. Aim: The aim of this meta-analysis is to determine the effect of loneliness on depression. Method: Initially, a literature scan was performed and all related literature was pooled together ( n  = 531). Based on scales determined by the researchers, it was decided to include 88 studies in the analysis. This study obtained a sampling group of 40,068 individuals. Results: The results of using a random effects model for analysis showed that loneliness had a moderately significant effect on depression. None of the variables of study sampling group, type of publication and publication year were found to be moderator variables. Conclusion: According to the results of the research, loneliness may be said to be a significant variable affecting depression. The findings obtained are discussed in light of the literature.

Keywords: Loneliness; depression; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:64:y:2018:i:5:p:427-435

DOI: 10.1177/0020764018776349

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