Contributors to co-occurring chronic loneliness and depression and anxiety and the role of adverse childhood experiences.

OBJECTIVE

Loneliness, a universal human experience, manifests in distinct forms with varied implications for psychological health. This study explores 'toxic loneliness', defined as chronic loneliness accompanied by psychological distress, and investigates its associations with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), perceived social support and trait emotional intelligence.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study utilized data from 455 adults seeking mental health services (mean age 27.2, SD - 8.45; 65.7% female).

METHOD: Participants completed self-report measures prior to obtaining psychological services at an urban community-based clinic. Two logistic regression models identified key determinants of depressed versus anxious loneliness phenotypes.

RESULTS

Childhood neglect significantly predicted anxious loneliness (OR = 2.45, 95% CI [1.11, 5.38], p < .05), while childhood abuse predicted depressed loneliness (OR = 2.52, 95% CI [1.04, 6.13], p < .05). Trait emotional intelligence emerged as a robust protective factor against both forms of anxious loneliness: OR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.17, 0.32], p < .001; depressed loneliness: OR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.08, 0.19], p < .001, and perceived social support was protective specifically against depressed loneliness (OR = 0.50, 95% CI [0.31, 0.83], p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the necessity of distinguishing between toxic loneliness subtypes and highlight the importance of developmental, emotional and relational factors in shaping loneliness outcomes. Implications include the potential for tailored mental health interventions that address the unique psychological pathways underlying anxious and depressed loneliness as well as the need for early preventive efforts targeting childhood adversity and emotional development.