Changes in loneliness during middle childhood predict risk for adolescent suicidality indirectly through mental health problems
Abstract
We investigated whether changes in loneliness during middle childhood as well as from middle childhood into adolescence were associated with adolescent self-harm behaviors and suicidal thoughts using a community sample of 889 participants. Multivariate logistic regressions indicate that the relationship between changes in loneliness and suicidality is no longer statistically significant once depression and externalizing behavior problems are included as controls. Follow-up analyses indicate that increases in loneliness indirectly affect self-harm behaviors and suicidal thoughts through depression and externalizing behavior problems. These findings are consistent with other studies on peer relationships and adolescent suicidality, suggesting that experiences with peers indirectly affect risk for suicidality through mental health problems. These findings highlight the importance of considering how experiences in middle childhood peer relationships affect risk for suicide in consecutive developmental periods, particularly adolescence.
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An increase in loneliness reported in middle childhood is predictive of depression in adolescence.
“Data from a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) study demonstrated that an increase in loneliness reported in middle childhood is predictive of depression in adolescence (Jones et al., 2011).”
From A hope intervention for adolescents: a randomized controlled trial delivered by paraprofessionals (2025) · cites this paper as Jones et al., 2011
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A hope intervention for adolescents: a randomized controlled trial delivered by paraprofessionals
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- Authors
- Jones, A. C., Schinka, K. C., van Dulmen, M. H. M., Bossarte, R. M., & Swahn, M. H.
- Affiliations
- John Carroll University (US)
- Kent State University (US)
- University of Rochester (US)
- Georgia State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-11
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 818-824
- ISSN
- 1537-4416 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-4424
- OpenAlex
- W2033641317
- Cited by
- 88
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 6.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalCommons - Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw State University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (R01CE001395)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- loneliness, middle childhood, adolescence, adolescent suicidality, suicidal ideation, self-harm, depression, externalizing problems, peer relationships, developmental changes, indirect effects
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Mental Disorders, Child, Depression, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Loneliness, Male, Mental Health, Peer Group, Suicide, Self-Injurious Behavior, Suicidal Ideation
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