Differences in Interpersonal Problems Among Bereaved vs. Non-Bereaved College Students: The Impact of Loneliness and Social Inhibition

This study explored the differences in loneliness and social inhibition between parentally bereaved and non-bereaved college students. Participants from West Virginia and Montana State universities were recruited through flyers, newspaper advertisements, and Craigslist.com. Those who volunteered were directed to a website to complete an online survey that included basic demographic information, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Socially Inhibited subscale of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-64. Bereavement status (bereaved vs. non-bereaved) and gender of participant (male vs. female) were the independent variables in the study. Loneliness and social inhibition were the dependent variables. A MANOVA was conducted to explore the differences in loneliness and social inhibition among the independent variables. Based on this analysis, no significant differences were found between bereaved and non-bereaved young adults, nor where there gender differences among the bereaved sample. Several supplemental analyses were conducted, including a MANCOVA, bivariate correlations, secondary MANOVA, and a discriminant analysis. Results from the discriminant analysis revealed that the stage of adolescence young adults lost their parent should be given further theoretical, empirical, and clinical attention.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum & Instruction/Literacy Studies

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Moller, Adam M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• James Bartee
• Jeffrey Daniels
• Lisa Hamilton
• Ed Jacobs
• Monica Leppma

• Psychology
• Developmental psychology

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/474

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1477