Associations between loneliness and perceived support among young persons in Sweden, based on self-reported data from the health behavior in school-aged children (HBSC) survey
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21501686 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Emma Edberg Matei (0009-0005-7506-8872, Kristianstad University, corresponding author), Pernilla Garmy (0000-0003-1643-0171, Kristianstad University), Eva‐Lena Einberg (0000-0002-5586-3810, Kristianstad University), Tide Garnow (0000-0003-4900-4769, Kristianstad University), Joakim Ekstrand (0000-0003-3179-8652, Kristianstad University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-12-31 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0267-3843 • E-ISSN: 2164-4527 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/02673843.2026.2666628 |
| OpenAlex | W7159983091 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
Loneliness among young persons is an increasing concern in Sweden and internationally, yet knowledge about its relation to perceived social support remains limited. This study examines the associations between loneliness and perceived support among adolescents using data from the Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey (n = 40,631; ages 11, 13 and 15). Loneliness was assessed using single-item measure and support variables were recoded to reflect levels of perceived support. Analyses were conducted separately by age group. Loneliness increased with age and was more common among girls than boys (OR 2.0–2.6), with markedly higher odds among adolescents identifying outside binary gender categories (OR 2.9–7.4). Low family- (OR 2.0–4.5), friend- (OR 4.7-6.0), and teacher support (OR 1.3–1.6) were associated with loneliness. Although causality cannot be inferred due to the cross-sectional design, the findings highlight the importance of supportive relationships for understanding loneliness among adolescents
Cross-sectional study · Loneliness · Odds · Social relationship · Social support · Young adult · Health and Wellbeing Research · Health disparities and outcomes · Resilience and Mental Health
The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study
An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness
Loneliness
Mental Health of Transgender Children Who Are Supported in Their Identities
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Social Support from Parents, Friends, Classmates, and Teachers in Children and Adolescents Aged 9 to 18 Years
Friend Affiliations and School Adjustment Among Mexican-American Adolescents
The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
Adolescent loneliness and social anxiety
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |