ABSTRACT
Loneliness in children and adolescent's has been researched for the last 30 years with the first studies based on findings from loneliness studies with adults. It is surprising that, in the developmental period, gender differences of high levels of loneliness have not been found in childhood, although there is evidence that males report more chronic loneliness than females during adolescence. To be able to intervene and assist young people to cope with loneliness, people first need to recognize and measure loneliness. Loneliness has been found to be a correlate of social anxiety, with children as young age who are socially anxious reporting more loneliness than their nonanxious peers. The measurement of loneliness and coping constructs are important for identification of lonely young people, evaluation of their cognitive appraisals of loneliness, evaluation of coping strategies for loneliness and evaluation of interventions. People know that social support is beneficial and regardless of age or gender, helps with coping with lonelines.
