THE EFFECTS OF GENDER, MARITAL-STATUS, AND THE CHRONICITY AND IMMEDIACY OF LONELINESS

The present study explored the antecedents of loneliness. Six hundred and thirty-three participants (295 males and 338 females) recruited fr om all walks of life, including students, members of special interest groups, incarcerated criminals, and the general public, completed a qu estionnaire listing eight-two (82) possible causes of loneliness. A fa ctor analysis applied to the data yielded five factors: Personal Inade quacies, Developmental Deficits, Unfulfilling Intimate Relationships, Relocatian/Significant Separation, and Social Marginality. The present study explored whether the salience of these factors differ ed accord ing to gender, marital status and the duration of loneliness, and whet her time perspective altered the participants' understanding of the ca uses of loneliness.