KaydedilenlerDerginizi ekleyin

Dergiler / Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 16 Issue: 80

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Predicting Loneliness with the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion among Emerging Adults

Ali Karababa(USAK UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-0458-3437
Sayfa
—
Yayın Tarihi
2026-03-27
🏛️Bu makalenin bibliyografik verileri ve tam metin bağlantısı DergiPark üzerinden sağlanmıştır.
DergiPark Kaydı ↗
✨

Yapay Zeka Hızlı Bakış & Çıkarımlar

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(1 Cümlede Hızlı Çıkarım)

The practical and theoretical implications, as well as the limitations of the current study, are discussed.

📌 3 Maddede Bu Makale

🎯
Amaç & Hipotez:Loneliness is harmful to both mental and physical well-being.
📊
Temel Bulgular & Veri:The cross-sectional study includes 364 participants (250 females and 114 males) aged 18–29 years (M = 20.00, SD = 1.97), who completed the measures of emotional intelligence, self-compassion, and loneliness, as well as a demographic questionnaire.
💡
Sonuç & Katkı:The practical and theoretical implications, as well as the limitations of the current study, are discussed.
🔬Tür:Uygulamalı Anket & Alan Araştırması
📍Kapsam:Genişletilmiş Akademik Örneklem
⚙️Değişkenler:Emotional intelligence · self-compassion · loneliness

Abstract

Loneliness is harmful to both mental and physical well-being. Loneliness is prevalent in emerging adulthood. Hence, there is a need to understand the mechanisms underlying loneliness in emerging adulthood. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the direct connections between emotional intelligence, self-compassion, and loneliness among emerging adults in Türkiye. Additionally, it investigates the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between emotional intelligence and loneliness. The cross-sectional study includes 364 participants (250 females and 114 males) aged 18–29 years (M = 20.00, SD = 1.97), who completed the measures of emotional intelligence, self-compassion, and loneliness, as well as a demographic questionnaire. First, the study findings demonstrate the significant direct relationships between emotional intelligence, self-compassion, and loneliness. The results then show that self-compassion mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and loneliness. Specifically, emerging adults with higher emotional intelligence report greater self-compassion, which, in turn, leads to decreased feelings of loneliness. The practical and theoretical implications, as well as the limitations of the current study, are discussed.

🔖

Bu Makaleye Atıf Yap

Karababa, A., *, A. K. (2026). The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Predicting Loneliness with the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion among Emerging Adults. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, Volume: 16 Issue: 80. https://doi.org/10.17066/tpdrd.1661636

📄 Tam Metin PDF Okuyucu

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

Kaynakça (62)

  1. Akın, Ü., Akın, A., & Abacı, R. (2007). Self-compassion scale: The study of validity and reliability. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 33, 1-10.
  2. Akin, A. (2010). Self-compassion and loneliness. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 2(3).
  3. Arnett, J. J. (Ed.). (2016). The Oxford handbook of emerging adulthood. Oxford University Press.
  4. Arnett, J. J. (2018). Conceptual foundations of emerging adulthood. In Murray J. L., Arnett J. J. (Eds.), Emerging adulthood and higher education: A new student development paradigm (pp. 11-24). Routledge.
  5. Arnett, J. J., Žukauskienė, R., & Sugimura, K. (2014). The new life stage of emerging adulthood at ages 18–29 years: Implications for mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(7), 569-576.
  6. Asher, S. R., & Paquette, J. A. (2003). Loneliness and peer relations in childhood. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12(3), 75-78. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.01233
  7. Augusto-Landa, J. M., García-Martínez, I., & León, S. P. (2024). Analysis of the effect of emotional intelligence and coping strategies on the anxiety, stress and depression levels of university students. Psychological Reports, 127(4), 1751-1770. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941221144603
  8. Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497-529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497
  9. Borawski, D., Sojda, M., Rychlewska, K., & Wajs, T. (2022). Attached but lonely: Emotional intelligence as a mediator and moderator between attachment styles and loneliness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 14831. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214831
  10. Buecker, S., Mund, M., Chwastek, S., Sostmann, M., & Luhmann, M. (2021). Is loneliness in emerging adults increasing over time? A preregistered cross-temporal meta-analysis and systematic review. Psychological Bulletin, 147(8), 787-805. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000332
  11. Cacioppo, J. T., & Hawkley, L. C. (2009). Perceived social isolation and cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 13(10), 447-454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2009.06.005
  12. Cacioppo, J. T., & Patrick, W. (2008). Loneliness: Human nature and the need for social connection. W. W. Norton & Company.
  13. Davis, S. K., Nowland, R., & Qualter, P. (2019). The role of emotional intelligence in the maintenance of depression symptoms and loneliness among children. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article 1672. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01672
  14. Di Fabio, A., & Saklofske, D. H. (2021). The relationship of compassion and self-compassion with personality and emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 169, Article 110109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110109
  15. Doğan, T., Çötok, N. A., & Tekin, E. G. (2011). Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8) among university students. Procedia–Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 2058-2062. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.053
  16. Ewert, C., Vater, A., & Schröder-Abé, M. (2021). Self-compassion and coping: A meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 12(5), 1063-1077. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01563-8
  17. Flesaker, M., Freibott, C. E., Evans, T. C., Gradus, J. L., & Lipson, S. K. (2024). Loneliness in the college student population: Prevalence and associations with substance use outcomes. Journal of American College Health, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2400105
  18. Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS (2nd ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.
  19. García-Sancho, E., Salguero, J. M., & Fernández-Berrocal, P. (2014). Relationship between emotional intelligence and aggression: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(5), 584-591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.07.007
  20. George, D., & Mallery, P. (2005). SPSS for windows step by step: A simple guide and reference 12.0 update (5th ed.). Pearson Education New Zealand.
  21. Gilbert, P. (2014). The origins and nature of compassion focused therapy. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 53(1), 6-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12043
  22. Haider, Z. F., & von Stumm, S. (2022). Predicting educational and social–emotional outcomes in emerging adulthood from intelligence, personality, and socioeconomic status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 123(6), 1386-1406. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000421
  23. Hays, R. D., & DiMatteo, M. R. (1987). A short-form measure of loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 51(1), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5101_6
  24. Hayes, A. F. (2017). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. Guilford Press.
  25. Heffernan, M., Griffin, M. T. Q., McNulty, S. R., & Fitzpatrick, J. J. (2010). Self-compassion and emotional intelligence in nurses. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(4), 366-373. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2010.01853.x
  26. Heinrich, L. M., & Gullone, E. (2006). The clinical significance of loneliness: A literature review. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(6), 695-718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2006.04.002
  27. Karababa, A. (2025). Suppression of positive and negative emotions and loneliness among emerging adults: A moderated-mediation model of romantic relationship satisfaction and gender. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2025.2466100
  28. Kirwan, E. M., Burns, A., O'Súilleabháin, P. S., Summerville, S., McGeehan, M., McMahon, J., Gowda, A., & Creaven, A.-M. (2025). Loneliness in emerging adulthood: A scoping review. Adolescent Research Review, 10(1), 47-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-024-00240-4
  29. Lathren, C. R., Rao, S. S., Park, J., & Bluth, K. (2021). Self-compassion and current close interpersonal relationships: A scoping literature review. Mindfulness, 12(5), 1078-1093. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01566-5
  30. Leary, M. R., Tate, E. B., Adams, C. E., Batts Allen, A., & Hancock, J. (2007). Self-compassion and reactions to unpleasant self-relevant events: The implications of treating oneself kindly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(5), 887-904. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.5.887
  31. Liu, X., Yang, Y., Wu, H., Kong, X., & Cui, L. (2022). The roles of fear of negative evaluation and social anxiety in the relationship between self-compassion and loneliness: A serial mediation model. Current Psychology: A Journal for Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, 41(8), 5249-5257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01001-x
  32. Macalli, M., Kinouani, S., Texier, N., Schück, S., & Tzourio, C. (2022). Contribution of perceived loneliness to suicidal thoughts among French university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 16833. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21288-z
  33. MacBeth, A., & Gumley, A. (2012). Exploring compassion: A meta-analysis of the association between self-compassion and psychopathology. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(6), 545-552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2012.06.003
  34. MacCann, C., Jiang, Y., Brown, L. E. R., Double, K. S., Bucich, M., & Minbashian, A. (2020). Emotional intelligence predicts academic performance: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 146(2), 150-186. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000219
  35. Malouff, J. M., Schutte, N. S., & Thorsteinsson, E. B. (2014). Trait emotional intelligence and romantic relationship satisfaction: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Family Therapy, 42(1), 53-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2012.748549
  36. Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey & D. Sluyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence: Educational implications (pp. 3-34). Basic Books.
  37. Moeller, R. W., & Seehuus, M. (2019). Loneliness as a mediator for college students' social skills and experiences of depression and anxiety. Journal of Adolescence, 73, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2019.03.006
  38. Neff, K. D. (2003a). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032
  39. Neff, K. D. (2003b). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309027
  40. Neff, K. D., & Beretvas, S. N. (2013). The role of self-compassion in romantic relationships. Self and Identity, 12(1), 78-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2011.639548
  41. Parker, J. D. A., Summerfeldt, L. J., Walmsley, C., O'Byrne, R., Dave, H. P., & Crane, A. G. (2021). Trait emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationships: Results from a 15-year longitudinal study. Personality and Individual Differences, 169, Article 110013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110013
  42. Peplau L. A., Perlman D. (1982). Perspectives on loneliness. In Peplau L. A., Perlman D. (Eds.), Loneliness: A sourcebook of current theory, research and therapy (pp. 1-20). John Wiley.
  43. Perlman, D., & Peplau, L. A. (1981). Toward a social psychology of loneliness. In R. Gilmour, & S. Duck (Eds.), Personal relationships in disorder (pp. 31-56). London: Academic Press.
  44. Phillips, W. J., & Hine, D. W. (2021). Self-compassion, physical health, and health behaviour: A meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 15(1), 113-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2019.1705872
  45. Qualter, P., Vanhalst, J., Harris, R., Van Roekel, E., Lodder, G., Bangee, M., Maes, M., & Verhagen, M. (2015). Loneliness across the life span. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 250-264. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691615568999
  46. Sánchez-Álvarez, N., Extremera, N., & Fernández-Berrocal, P. (2016). The relation between emotional intelligence and subjective well-being: A meta-analytic investigation. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(3), 276-285. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2015.1058968
  47. Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Bobik, C., Coston, T. D., Greeson, C., Jedlicka, C., Rhodes, E., & Wendorf, G. (2001). Emotional intelligence and interpersonal relations. The Journal of Social Psychology, 141(4), 523-536. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224540109600569
  48. Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., & Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(2), 167-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00001-4
  49. Şenyuva, E., Kaya, H., Işik, B., & Bodur, G. (2014). Relationship between self-compassion and emotional intelligence in nursing students. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 20(6), 588-596. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12204
  50. Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th ed.). Allyn & Bacon/Pearson Education.
  51. Tatar, A., Tok, S., Bender, M. T., & Saltukoğlu, G. (2017). Translation of original form of Schutte Emotional Intelligence Test into Turkish and examination of its psychometric properties. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 18(2), 139-146. http://doi.org/10.5455/bcp.20110624015920
  52. Thomas, C. L., Allen, K., & Sung, W. (2024). Emotional intelligence and academic buoyancy in university students: The mediating influence of self-compassion and achievement goals. Trends in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-024-00363-6
  53. Ttofi, M. M., Farrington, D. P., Piquero, A. R., Lösel, F., DeLisi, M., & Murray, J. (2016). Intelligence as a protective factor against offending: A meta-analytic review of prospective longitudinal studies. Journal of Criminal Justice, 45, 4-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2016.02.003
  54. Vanhalst, J., Luyckx, K., & Goossens, L. (2014). Experiencing loneliness in adolescence: A matter of individual characteristics, negative peer experiences, or both? Social Development, 23(1), 100-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12019
  55. Wang, S., Tang, Q., Lv, Y., Tao, Y., Liu, X., Zhang, L., & Liu, G. (2023). The temporal relationship between depressive symptoms and loneliness: The moderating role of self-compassion. Behavioral Sciences, 13(6), 472. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13060472
  56. Wollast, R., Preece, D. A., Schmitz, M., Bigot, A., Gross, J. J., & Luminet, O. (2024). The role of self-compassion in loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A group-based trajectory modelling approach. Cognition and Emotion, 38(1), 103-119. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2023.2270201
  57. Wols, A., Scholte, R. H. J., & Qualter, P. (2015). Prospective associations between loneliness and emotional intelligence. Journal of Adolescence, 39, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.12.007
  58. Xie, Q., Manova, V., & Khoury, B. (2023). How do dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion alleviate loneliness? The mediating role of rejection sensitivity. Current Psychology, 42(27), 23712-23721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03549-2
  59. Yarnell, L. M., & Neff, K. D. (2013). Self-compassion, interpersonal conflict resolutions, and well-being. Self and Identity, 12, 146-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2011.649545
  60. Yıldırım, E. (2021). Effects between emotional intelligence, loneliness and self-verification in organizations: The mediating role of self-verification. Master’s thesis, Yozgat Bozok University, Yozgat.
  61. Zessin, U., Dickhäuser, O., & Garbade, S. (2015). The relationship between self‐compassion and well‐being: A meta‐analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 7(3), 340-364. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12051
  62. Zou, J. (2014). Associations between trait emotional intelligence and loneliness in Chinese undergraduate students: Mediating effects of self-esteem and social support. Psychological Reports, 114(3), 880-890. https://doi.org/10.2466/04.21.PR0.114k29w3