THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LONELINESS AND SENSE OF SOCIAL BELONGING IN ADULTS WITH SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

Abstract

This study examines the social and emotional loneliness of adults with depression symptoms in relation to social belonging. The sample of the study consists of a total of 416 volunteers, 235 adult females181 adult males, between the ages of 18-55, selected by convenient sampling method. Personal Information Form, Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale, Beck Depression Scale and General Belonging Scale were used in the data collection process. Correlation and regression analysis were applied in the analysis of the data. When the results obtained from the study are examined, men are found to have higher levels of social loneliness and exclusion than women. The level of exclusion as the sub-dimension of belonging positively predicted the level of depression, the level of acceptance negatively predicted the level of depression. Also, the level of exclusion and social-emotional loneliness positively predicted depression. Exclusion, as a sub-dimension of belonging, positively predicted social loneliness and emotional loneliness (family) scores, and acceptance predicted social loneliness and emotional loneliness scores negatively. The level of acceptance, as a sub-dimension of belonging, negatively predicts emotional loneliness (romantic relationships) scores.