Abstract
This study examined a) the factor structure of coping strategies for loneliness and b) relation-ships among loneliness and coping strategies. Four scales were administered to undergraduate students (N=402). The scales were two versions of UCLA Loneliness Scale (short-term loneliness, long-term loneliness), Coping Strategies Scale, and Self-Esteem Scale. Two versions of UCLA Loneliness Scale were completed with different criteria (“during the past two weeks”versus“during the past one year”).
The results were as follows.
1) Short-term loneliness scores were higher for males than for females. They were highly correlated with long-term loneliness scores.
2) The factor analysis of coping strategies produced seven factors for males, and six factors for females.
3) Results of the multiple regression analyses indicated that interpersonal coping strategies were effective in reducing long-term loneliness, while passive acceptance coping prolonged loneliness.
4) Based on the combined scores of short-term and long-term loneliness scores, subjects were divided into three groups of different levels of chronic loneliness. Results of discriminant analyses indicated that high-chronic-lonely group used interpersonal coping strategies less than low-chronic-lonely group.
