Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2013

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

College of Education and Human Services

Department

Curriculum & Instruction/Literacy Studies

Abstract

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.

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