The cultural context of loneliness: Risk factors in active duty soldiers

Abstract

Loneliness has been shown to predict mental health problems and suicide in active duty soldiers. In the present study, we examined distal (e.g., demographic & socioeconomic characteristics) to proximal factors (e.g., platoon relations, relationship quality) that were associated with loneliness in active duty soldiers in the U.S. Army. Results revealed a set of factors that were associated with loneliness in active duty soldiers, including age, frequency of contact with friends and family by phone, childhood trauma, self-reported overall emotional health, intra-platoon harassment, perceived stress, perceived platoon cohesion and support, organizational citizenship behavior, relationship satisfaction with friends, and relationship satisfaction with platoon members. The association between loneliness and both perceived stress and relationship satisfaction with platoon members reached a moderate effect size in the multivariate models. Although some of predictors overlap with those identified in studies of civilians, most were unique to soldiers. Implications are discussed for understanding loneliness in an organization like the military and for the early identification of and intervention with active duty soldiers who may be at risk for mental and behavioral problems.