Publication Date

5-2025

Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)

3-7-2025

Type of Culminating Activity

Thesis

Degree Title

Master of Public Health

Department

Community and Environmental Health

Supervisory Committee Chair

Megan Smith, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Anne Abbott, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Jason Shanks, Ph.D.

Abstract

Adolescent mental health is on the decline and questions have been raised as to what might be contributing. The experience of chronic loneliness has been linked to increased risk of developing anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors in both adulthood and adolescence. However, little research has been conducted on the relationship between known risk and protective factors and loneliness in adolescence. The objective of this secondary data analysis is to examine the patterns of association between risk and protective factors in key developmental domains on loneliness. A total of 7,696 adolescent (M age = 14.6, 51% male) responses were collected during the 2022-2023 academic year. Multiple regression was used to test the patterns of association. A one-way ANOVA was deployed to examine mean differences between middle and high school students. Results found that indicators from the family, peer and school domain, as well as the individual level self-awareness indicator, were significantly negatively associated with loneliness. Empathy was the only indicator variable with a significant positive association. Findings suggest that interventions for adolescent loneliness should consider targeting risk and protective factors across all key developmental domains.

DOI

10.18122/td.2383.boisestate

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