STRESS

Original Articles

The Relationship between Rejection Sensitivity and Loneliness: Double Mediation Effects of Self-Acceptance and Self-Silencing: Ayeong Jeong, Boyoung Kim; STRESS. 2025;33(4):192-200. Published online December 31, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.4.192

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Abstract PDF: Background
This study aimed to provide an integrated explanation of the effects of rejection sensitivity on loneliness. Specifically, this study examined the individual and serial mediating roles of self-acceptance and self-silencing in the relationship between rejection sensitivity and loneliness.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 310 male and female university students (ages 19-26 years) in South Korea. Participants completed measures assessing rejection sensitivity, self-acceptance, self-silencing, and loneliness. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, and the PROCESS macro was used to test for direct and indirect effects.
Results
Rejection sensitivity had a significant direct effect on loneliness; it was negatively correlated with self-acceptance and positively correlated with self-silencing. Both self-acceptance and self-silencing served as partial mediators in the relationship between rejection sensitivity and loneliness. Critically, the serial mediation model was significant: rejection sensitivity predicted lower self-acceptance, which in turn predicted higher self-silencing, ultimately leading to increased loneliness.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that the influence of rejection sensitivity on loneliness is a complex process partially explained by the sequential roles of diminished self-acceptance and subsequent self-silencing. This study highlights the importance of targeting both self-acceptance and self-silencing in clinical and educational settings to develop effective strategies for reducing loneliness among young adults with high rejection sensitivity.

Effects of Loneliness on Stress in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Sequential Dual Mediating Roles of Social Interaction Anxiety and Self-Control: Seung Chul Lee, Wonil Choi, SoYeong Yoon, Soo Rim Noh; STRESS. 2025;33(2):93-102. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.93

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Background
The aim of this study is to identify the psychological pathways linking loneliness to stress among middle-aged and older adults, focusing on the mediating roles of social interaction anxiety and self-control.
Methods
A total of 580 adults aged 40∼71 years completed an online self-report questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test a sequential mediation model, and covariates such as age, sex, depression, and extraversion were controlled for.
Results
Loneliness was positively associated with stress and social interaction anxiety, and negatively with self-control. Social interaction anxiety and self-control each mediated the relationship between loneliness and stress. Moreover, a significant sequential mediation pathway was observed: loneliness was associated with higher levels of social interaction anxiety, which in turn was negatively related to self-control, and lower self-control was linked to heightened stress. After controlling for covariates, only the indirect effect via social interaction anxiety remained significant. This suggests that anxiety in social contexts may serve as a robust emotional mechanism underlying the association between loneliness and perceived stress.
Conclusions
This study empirically supports the sequential mediation model in which loneliness increases social interaction anxiety, which in turn reduces self-control, ultimately elevating stress. These findings highlight the importance of considering both interpersonal and intrapersonal factors in mental health interventions for aging populations. Addressing loneliness, reducing social interaction anxiety, and strengthening self-control may be effective targets for psychological intervention and community-based programs tailored to the needs of middle-aged and older adults.

Citations

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Loneliness and perceived stress in family caregivers of older adults with disabilities: the mediating role of psychological resilience
Yinghui Song, Ying Luo, Xiwen Zhang, Ying Zhou, Shudi Chen, Caiying Huang
BMC Geriatrics.2026;[Epub] CrossRef

Impact of Frailty, Depression, and Loneliness on Ego-Integrity in Community-Dwelling Elderly: Seon Ju Song, Sung Hee Ko, Ji Young Kim, Hyun Kyung Kim; STRESS. 2022;30(3):139-146. Published online September 30, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2022.30.3.139

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Abstract PDF: Background
This study examined how frailty, depression, and loneliness impact ego-integrity among the community-dwelling elderly
Methods
The study participants comprised 187 elderly people in J-province. Data collected in October 2018 via structured self-report questionnaires were used to assess the participants’ general characteristics, frailty, depression, loneliness, and ego-integrity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression.
Results
Significantly positive correlations were found among frailty, depression, and loneliness. Ego-integrity showed significantly negative correlations with frailty, depression, and loneliness. Finally, loneliness was a significant factor, explaining about 28.7% of the variance on ego-identity.
Conclusions
The study’s findings suggest that an intervention focused on reducing loneliness would improve ego-integrity among the elderly.

The Parallel Multiple Mediating Effects of Work-Family Conflict and Loneliness in the Relationship between Temperaments, Depression, and Anxiety while Working from Home: Yeeun Hwang, Yejin Cho, Yuseung Choi, Myoung-Ho Hyun; STRESS. 2022;30(2):75-84. Published online June 30, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2022.30.2.75

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Abstract PDF

Background
As the number of people working from home has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to understand workers’ stress and psychological state while working from home. Work-family conflict and loneliness may be related to working from home, and they could be experienced differently depending on individual traits. Therefore, this study examined the parallel multiple mediating effects of work-family conflict and loneliness in the relationship between personal temperaments and negative emotions such as depression and anxiety.
Methods
Data were collected online from people currently working from home for at least one month, more than once per week. They answered K-DASS-21, UCLA loneliness scale, Work-Family Conflict, and FCB-TI. Only four temperaments were used in the statistic step: Briskness and Sense sensitivity as protective factors and Perseveration and Emotional reactivity as vulnerable factors. The multiple mediating effects were analyzed independently by using the PROCESS macro.
Results
Firstly, Briskness and Sense sensitivity were found to negatively affect depression and anxiety while working from home by significantly mediating work-family conflict and loneliness. Thus, these temperaments would be protective factors while working from home. Secondly, Perseveration and Emotional reactivity positively influenced both negative emotions by mediating two mediation variables, which means that both temperaments are vulnerable factors.
Conclusions
The results suggest that personality traits can impact how people experience stress and negative emotions in working situations, leading to negative psychological states. Consequently, personal temperaments would be important to understand relationships between environments and internal experiences.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

The Dual Mediation Effect of Evaluative Concerns Perfectionism and Mindfulness in the Relationship between Temperament and Depression among Office Workers
SeoYeon Park, Yejin Cho, Myoung-Ho Hyun
STRESS.2023; 31(2): 87. CrossRef

The Effects of Loneliness on Paranoia: A Mediating Effect of Self-Concept: Moonseob Park, Myoung-Ho Hyun; STRESS. 2020;28(2):84-89. Published online June 30, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2020.28.2.84

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Abstract PDF: Background
Although there is a relationship between paranoia and loneliness in several studies, the mechanisms that explain how loneliness augments paranoia remain unclear. The study investigates the effects of self-concept in the relationship between loneliness and paranoia.
Methods
149 participants (male N=70, female N=79, mean age: 22.05 years) completed the questionnaires measuring levels of loneliness, self-concept, and paranoia.
Results
Data from this study show that loneliness has a significantly negative effect on self-concept and positive effect on paranoia. Self-concept has a significantly negative effect on paranoia. Also, it was analyzed that meditating effect on self-concept is significant on the relationship between loneliness and paranoia
Conclusions
Based on the result of this study, it was confirmed that loneliness could activate self-concept negatively, which leads to an increase in paranoia. Also, current results suggested that in the treatment of paranoia, it was important to deal with feeling of loneliness as well as intervention in self-concept.

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