The Role of World Beliefs in Loneliness

Implications for Daily Social Interaction and Persistence of Loneliness Over Time

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7160282
AutoresEdward P Lemay (0000-0001-8089-3256, University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA, autor de correspondencia), Jennifer Cutri (0000-0001-6814-6805, University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA), Ronald T Or (0000-0003-2441-8711, University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA), Alexander J Davis (University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA), Alexander Davis (0000-0002-0958-305X, University of Maryland, College Park), Zizhong Xiao (0009-0003-0698-7547, University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA)
Año2025
Volumen93
Número5
Páginas1164-1174
Fecha de publicación2025-10-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Personality (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0022-3506 • E-ISSN: 1467-6494
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jopy.12999
PMID39644125
OpenAlexW4405137968
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas61

INTRODUCTION: Lonely people often crave social connection, but their social interactions fall short of fulfilling their needs. Although loneliness has been associated with negative views of the world, it is not clear whether these world beliefs contribute to the unfulfilling social interaction patterns that sustain loneliness. This research examined the role of world beliefs in explaining the effects of loneliness on daily frequency and quality of interaction, and the implications for sustained loneliness over time. METHODS: Both members of romantic couples (N = 472) completed measures of loneliness, world beliefs, and daily social interactions with weak and strong ties over 2 weeks (daily N = 6411) and completed a follow-up assessment of loneliness a year later. RESULTS: Relative to those who felt connected, lonely people believed the world was worse, dangerous, dull, and did not need them. Loneliness also indirectly predicted reduced quality and quantity of social interaction via negative, dull, and not needed world beliefs. In turn, the quality of interactions with strong ties predicted maintained loneliness a year later. However, dangerous world beliefs predicted better interactions with close relationship partners. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the negative subjective worlds inhabited by lonely people may partially explain why lonely people have unfulfilling social interactions that tend to sustain their loneliness

Developmental psychology · Interpersonal relationship · Loneliness · Social relation · Cultural Differences and Values · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Health disparities and outcomes · Psychology · Social Psychology