The effects of culture on the causes of loneliness

The present study explored the influence of cultural background on the caus es of loneliness. Three hundred and seventy five participants from North Am erica and 375 from Croatia volunteered to answer an 82 item questionnaire w hich examined the antecedents of their loneliness experiences. Five factors comprise the causes of loneliness: Personal inadequacies, Developmental de ficits, Unfulfilling intimate relationships, Relocation/significant separat ion, and Social marginality. North Americans scored significantly higher on all five factors. Gender differences within cultures were also noted.