Friendship, loneliness and depression in adolescents with Asperger's Syndrome

Journal of Adolescence - Tập 32 - Trang 309-322 - 2009
Andrew J.O. Whitehouse1,2, Kevin Durkin3, Emma Jaquet2
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
2School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
3Department of Psychology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

Tóm tắt

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the relation between friendship, loneliness and depressive symptoms in adolescents with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Thirty‐five adolescents with AS and 35 controls matched on chronological age, school year and gender distribution, completed questionnaires designed to ascertain the quality of their best‐friendship, motivation for developing friendships, feelings of loneliness and depressive symptomatology. Relative to the comparison group, the participants with AS reported poorer quality of best‐friendship and less motivation to develop friendships. The individuals with AS displayed higher levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms, with loneliness being negatively correlated with the quality of their best‐friendship. Increased levels of loneliness in the adolescents with AS was predicted by the extent to which their best‐friendships were characterized by high levels of conflict/betrayal. Increased depressive symptoms in the adolescents with AS were also predicted by this factor. The findings indicate that increased levels of negative affect may be related to the poor quality of social relationships often reported in this population.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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Thông tin xuất bản

Journal of Adolescence

Tập 32

309-322

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