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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Apr 3.
Published in final edited form as: Psychol Med. 2018 Apr 24;49(2):268–277. doi: 10.1017/S0033291718000788

Table 4. Childhood predictors of loneliness in young adulthood.

Distribution Association with age-18 loneliness
β (95% CI)

Baseline Adjusted within domain Final model
Family environment M (SD)
     Maternal warmth 3.27 (1.00) -0.03 (-0.08, 0.02)
% (N)
     Maternal depression 35.01 (780) 0.05 (-0.00, 0.10)
     Parental antisocial behaviour 27.58 (614) -0.01 (-0.06, 0.04)
     Domestic violence 42.29 (938) -0.02 (-0.07, 0.04)
Child characteristics M (SD)
     IQ 100 (15.00) -0.04 (-0.09, 0.01)
     Theory of mind 4.52 (3.28) -0.08 (-0.13, -0.04) -0.08 (-0.12, -0.03) -0.04 (-0.08, 0.01)
     Openness to experience 4.31 (2.76) 0.03 (-0.02, 0.08)
     Conscientiousness 8.52 (3.23) -0.01 (-0.06, 0.05)
     Extraversion 8.28 (3.54) -0.03 (-0.08, 0.02)
     Agreeableness 8.94 (1.70) -0.03 (-0.09, 0.03)
     Neuroticism 2.08 (1.84) 0.13 (0.08, 0.18) 0.13 (0.08, 0.18) 0.07 (0.02, 0.12)
Child mental health
     Depression symptoms 3.11 (5.32) 0.23 (0.18, 0.29) 0.19 (0.13, 0.25) 0.16 (0.10, 0.22)
     Anxiety symptoms 7.62 (3.04) 0.17 (0.13, 0.22) 0.11 (0.07, 0.16) 0.08 (0.03, 0.13)
     Substance use 0.04 (0.24) 0.03 (-0.02, 0.08)
% (N)
     ADHD diagnosis 12.12 (266) 0.07 (0.02, 0.11) 0.03 (-0.02, 0.08)
     Conduct disorder diagnosis 15.76 (349) 0.08 (0.03, 0.13) 0.03 (-0.02, 0.08)
Victimisation and social relationships
     Physical maltreatment 5.73 (128) 0.07 (0.02, 0.12) 0.03 (-0.02, 0.09)
     Bullying 44.49 (985) 0.15 (0.11, 0.20) 0.12 (0.07, 0.17) 0.08 (0.03, 0.13)
     Social isolation 33.67 (700) 0.15 (0.11, 0.20) 0.12 (0.07, 0.17) 0.08 (0.03, 0.12)

β = Standardised regression coefficient (interpretable as equivalent to a correlation). CI = Confidence interval. IQ = Intelligence quotient. ADHD = Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. All analyses adjusted for gender and socioeconomic status.