Compiling a Loneliness Model Based on Self-esteem and Secular Attachment Mediated by Self-compassion in University Students

Establishing meaningful communication based on trust and mutual support is one of the basic and natural human needs. Loneliness refers to a negative and unpleasant experience that is caused by a lack of quantitative or qualitative attention in the field of one's social relationships. In other words, loneliness is a mental conflict between the individual's reality and the desired level of social relations. Now, when people fail to create social connections, the quality of life is severely damaged and may lead to loneliness. On the other hand, considering that loneliness is a common phenomenon in adolescence and adulthood and usually affects university students and often leads to mental illness. Also, loneliness is a constant risk factor for physical and mental health, which makes the prevalence of loneliness in young adults alarming. For this purpose, the present study was conducted to compile a model of loneliness based on self–esteem and secular attachment with the mediation of self–compassion in students.

The current research was correlational–analytical using the path analysis method. The statistical population comprised all students of Shiraz University who were studying in the academic year 2022–2023. The participants were selected using the available sampling method. After removing inappropriate questionnaires, 274 people remained. The participants completed the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell et al., 1980), the Rosenberg Self–Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), the Secular Attachment Scale (Mehdiyar et al., 2018), and the Self–Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003). The ethical considerations of the research included the consent and willingness of the participants, the right to withdraw, keeping the information of the participants confidential, and informing the participants about the research process. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and AMOS version 22 software. The significance level of the tests in this research was considered 0.05.

The results of the path analysis showed that self–esteem (β =–0.268, p<0.001) and self–compassion (β=–0.356, p<0.001) had a negative and significant direct effect, and secular attachment (β=0.194, p=0.019) had a positive and significant direct effect on the loneliness. On the other hand, self–esteem (β=0.145, p=0.032) had a positive and significant direct effect, and secular attachment (β=–0.161, p=0.011) had a negative and significant direct effect on self–compassion. The indirect effect of self–esteem on loneliness was negatively significant (β=–0.033, p=0.014). Also, the indirect effect of secular attachment on loneliness was positive and significant (β=0.029, p=0.021). Also, the fit index was at a suitable level (χ2/df=2.707, GFI=0.911, IFI=0.910, PCLOSE=0.094, RMSEA=0.071).

Based on the findings of this research, reducing secular attachment and increasing self–esteem leads to increased self–compassion. As a result, it plays a significant role in reducing students' loneliness.