The longitudinal interplay between loneliness and depressive symptoms during late childhood: Cross-lagged panel network analyses

This study uses a cross-lagged panel network model with a sample of 4,333 children (Mage = 11.06, SD = 0.73; 50.8% girls at T1) to examine the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms over a two-year period. The cross-sectional network shows that loneliness is strongly associated with sadness, perceived parental pressure, and boredom. The longitudinal network suggests: (1) a reciprocal link between loneliness and both sadness and parental pressure; (2) a forward effect of loneliness on anxiety and being busy; (3) the loneliness-reducing effect of prior happiness and loneliness-increasing effect of boredom. This research highlights the complex interplay of emotions in adolescents, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address the interrelated emotional and social issues associated with the risk of loneliness and depression.