Loneliness and the Hofstede Dimension, comparing Mean Loneliness among Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Loneliness is the subjective feeling of having unsatisfactory relationships, and loneliness can negatively influence adolescents’ wellbeing. This analysis examines differences in mean loneliness among adolescents between different countries based on the six Hofstede Dimensions: Restrained, Power-Distance, Long-Term Orientation, Individualism, Masculinity, and Uncertainty-Avoidance with loneliness. Mean loneliness scores from the MASLO-dataset are compared with countries and the Hofstede Dimensions. The Hofstede Dimensions are retrieved from https://www.hofstede-insights.com. I included 459 studies concerning adolescents and loneliness from 38 countries. Two different analyses were performed, the first analysis examined the Dimensions separately and a second analysis examined the Dimensions altogether. First, I found a difference in mean loneliness among adolescents between countries. We found no relation between Power-Distance, Restrained and loneliness. Additionally, we found a positive relation between Masculinity and Collectivism, suggesting people in more Masculine and more Collectivistic countries are more likely to report higher mean loneliness. Final, we found a negative relation between Uncertainty-Avoidance and Short-Term Orientation, implying that people in Low Uncertainty-Avoidance and Short-Term Orientation countries were more likely to report higher loneliness. Concluding, cultural differences are associated with differences in loneliness, where Masculinity, Collectivism, Uncertainty-Avoidance and Short-Term Orientation seem the most important.