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How Loneliness is Associated with Depressive Symptoms in Spanish College Students: Examining Specific Coping Strategies as Mediators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2018

Amaia de la Fuente ,
Edward C. Chang ,
Olga Cardeñoso  and
Olivia D. Chang
Amaia de la Fuente*
Affiliation:
Universidad del País Vasco (Spain)
Edward C. Chang*
Affiliation:
University of Michigan (USA)
Olga Cardeñoso
Affiliation:
Universidad del País Vasco (Spain)
Olivia D. Chang
Affiliation:
University of Michigan (USA)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to either of the first two authors. Amaia de la Fuente. Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación. Universidad del País Vasco. Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, 48940, Vizcaya (Spain). E-mail: adelafuente011@ikasle.ehu.eus.
†Edward C. Chang. Department of Psychology, University of Michigan. 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, 48109 Michigan (USA). E-mail: changec@umich.edu.
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Abstract

In this study, we examined coping strategies as a mediator of the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms. A sample of 364 Spanish young adults (75.5% females) completed measures of loneliness, coping, and depressive symptoms. In general, results from computing correlations (controlling for gender) indicated that loneliness was negatively associated with the use of one engaged coping strategy (viz., problem solving) and positively associated with the use of disengaged coping strategies (e.g., problem avoidance). A multiple mediation analysis (controlling for gender) was conducted to test for mediation. Results of this analysis indicated that part of the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms can be explained by the use of one engaged coping strategy (viz., problem solving; indirect effect, p < .05) and a variety of disengaged coping strategies (viz., problem avoidance, wishful thinking, social withdrawal, & self criticism; indirect effects, p < .05). Overall, the prediction model including loneliness and coping strategies was found to account for a large (f2 = .68) 40.5% of the variance in depressive symptoms in Spanish young adults. The present findings are the first to clarify how the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms in Spanish young adults might be due in part to the use of different coping strategies. Some implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords

college studentscoping strategiesdepressionlonelinessSpanish young adults
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 21 , 2018 , E54
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2018 

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