Modelling Adolescent Loneliness via Empathy, Social Goals and Social Capital: A Self-Determination Theoretical Perspective

Helen Hall; Prudence Millear; Mathew Summers

doi:10.1007/s10566-026-09923-6

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Modelling Adolescent Loneliness via Empathy, Social Goals and Social Capital: A Self-Determination Theoretical Perspective

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Modelling Adolescent Loneliness via Empathy, Social Goals and Social Capital: A Self-Determination Theoretical Perspective

Helen Hall, Prudence Millear and Mathew Summers

Child and Youth Care Forum, Vol.Advanced access

21-Jan-2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-026-09923-6

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Abstract

Adolescence

AVA

Empathic concern

Loneliness

Perspective-taking

SDT

Social achievement goals

Social capital

Background Adolescent loneliness is rising and linked to poorer psychosocial outcomes. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) highlights social-cognitive skills and social capital as relevant to social well-being. Using Associational Variable Analysis (AVA), this study examined whether theory-consonant associations among empathy, social goals, and social capital align with lower loneliness. Objective Evaluate the associational structure linking combined empathic concern and perspective-taking (ECPT), social achievement goals, social capital (trust, reciprocity, participation), and loneliness in mid-adolescence, and probe robustness via alternative specifications. Methods Students (N = 177; Mage = 14.19, SD = 0.37) completed self-reports of ECPT, social goals (development, demonstration-avoid, demonstration-approach), social capital, and loneliness. SEM (ML with FIML) tested the hypothesised model with AVA checks (direction-reversed variants; alternative social-capital structures). Complementary simultaneous regression reported semi-partial (unique) associations with loneliness. Results The retained model fit well, χ2 (15) = 21.45, p = .123; CFI = .98; RMSEA = .05, explaining R2 = .41 of Loneliness. ECPT related positively to Social Development and Demonstration-Avoid Goals. Social Development Goals related positively to Social Capital; Demonstration-Avoid related negatively; Demonstration-Approach showed a small positive association. Social Capital was strongly, negatively associated with Loneliness. Robustness checks produced comparable patterns; semi-partial results indicated Social Capital accounted for the largest unique share (sr2 = .21). Conclusions Within an AVA (non-causal) frame, findings are consistent with ECPT functioning as a scaffold aligning with mastery-oriented social goals and richer social capital associations linked to lower loneliness. Longitudinal and intervention research should test temporal ordering, mechanisms, and the roles of diversity and digital social capital.

Details

Title: Modelling Adolescent Loneliness via Empathy, Social Goals and Social Capital: A Self-Determination Theoretical Perspective
Authors: Helen Hall (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
Prudence Millear - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
Mathew Summers - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
Publication details: Child and Youth Care Forum, Vol.Advanced access
Publisher: Springer New York LLC
DOI: 10.1007/s10566-026-09923-6
ISSN: 1573-3319
Copyright note: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Data Availability: The data used in the research cannot be publicly shared but are available upon request. The materials used in the research cannot be publicly shared but are available upon request.
Organisation Unit: Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health - Psychology
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991202850802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Psychology, Developmental