Coping with loneliness in adolescence: A cross-cultural study

The present study examined the influence of cultural background on adolesce nts' ability to cope with loneliness. Three hundred and six adolescents (13 -18 yrs. old) from Canada and Portugal answered an 86 item questionnaire wh ich examined the beneficial strategies which they used to cope with lonelin ess. The strategies which were examined included Acceptance and reflection, Self development and understanding, Social support network, Distancing and denial, Religion and faith and Increased activity. Results revealed that a dolescents of the two cultures differed on three subscales. Gender differen ces between, and within, cultures were also examined.