Friendship, loneliness and depression in adolescents with Asperger's Syndrome
Abstract
This study investigated the relation between friendship, loneliness and depressive symptoms in adolescents with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Thirty‐five adolescents with AS and 35 controls matched on chronological age, school year and gender distribution, completed questionnaires designed to ascertain the quality of their best‐friendship, motivation for developing friendships, feelings of loneliness and depressive symptomatology. Relative to the comparison group, the participants with AS reported poorer quality of best‐friendship and less motivation to develop friendships. The individuals with AS displayed higher levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms, with loneliness being negatively correlated with the quality of their best‐friendship. Increased levels of loneliness in the adolescents with AS was predicted by the extent to which their best‐friendships were characterized by high levels of conflict/betrayal. Increased depressive symptoms in the adolescents with AS were also predicted by this factor. The findings indicate that increased levels of negative affect may be related to the poor quality of social relationships often reported in this population.
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The evidence is indicative of an association between peer relationship quality and depressed mood in adolescents.
“The evidence is indicative of an association between peer relationship quality and depressed mood [4, 56–67, 83–86, 88, 92–95, 97, 98].”
From Association between friendship quality and subjective wellbeing among adolescents: a systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [56]
The association between positive peer relationships and lower loneliness might not apply to adolescents with Asperger's syndrome and those who live in rural areas.
“However, this claim might not apply to adolescents with Asperger’s syndrome and those who live in rural areas as was highlighted in two studies [56, 72].”
From Association between friendship quality and subjective wellbeing among adolescents: a systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [56]
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“Autistic traits have also been associated with elevated levels of loneliness [58–59], and loneliness implies a desire for interactions or relationships that goes unfulfilled.”
- Authors
- Whitehouse, A. J. O., Durkin, K., Jaquet, E., & Ziatas, K.
- Affiliations
- The University of Western Australia (AU)
- University of Strathclyde (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Whitehouse, Andrew J.O.
- Venue
- Journal of Adolescence
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-08-08
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 309-322
- ISSN
- 0140-1971 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9254
- OpenAlex
- W1989846652
- Cited by
- 286
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 3.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Adolescence (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- Asperger syndrome, adolescents, friendship, loneliness, depressive symptoms, friendship conflict, interpersonal relationships, negative affect
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Loneliness, Male, Peer Group, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Asperger Syndrome, Friends, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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