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Objective: This study was designed to investigate the situation of social anxiety among left-behind children in rural areas of Hunan Province, China, and to study the effect of social anxiety on loneliness., Methodology: A total of 797 left-behind children were selected from rural areas in Hunan Province, China. The basic information questionnaire for left-behind children, Social Anxiety Scale for Children, Perceived Social Support Scale and UCLA Loneliness Scale were used for investigation., Results: (1) The social anxiety score of left-behind children in China is 6.84 ± 4.28, higher than non-left-behind children, and the score of boys is lower than that of girls, with no significant difference. The score of left-behind children in grade 5 is significantly lower than that of left-behind children in other grades. (2) The overall loneliness score is 16.30 ± 5.10, higher than non-left-behind children, and the score of boys is significantly higher than that of girls. (3) Social anxiety has a significant positive predictive effect on loneliness (P < 0.01). Regression analysis shows that social anxiety not only affects loneliness directly, but also affects loneliness indirectly through the mediating role of perceived social support., Conclusions: Social anxiety is a risk factor for loneliness of left-behind children in rural areas. In the influence of social anxiety on loneliness, social support plays a partial mediating role.

Background: Adolescence is a period characterized by high frequency of mental health problems. Loneliness, in particular, is a common psychological problem. This study aims to explore the effects of psychological capital on adolescents' loneliness and the mediating effects of perceived social support., Subjects and Methods: A total of 694 adolescents from six regions in Hunan Province, China were selected. The survey was conducted using the Perceived Social Support Scale, Loneliness Scale, and Psychological Capital Questionnaire. The study analyzed the correlations between perceived social support, psychological capital, and loneliness among adolescents and the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between perceived social support and loneliness., Results: Significant correlations were observed between adolescents' total scores in perceived social support, psychological capital, and loneliness and between each dimension. The following observations were made: a significant negative correlation between perceived social support and loneliness (r=0.440, P<0.01), a significant positive correlation between perceived social support and psychological capital (r=0.493, P<0.01), and a significant negative correlation between psychological capital and loneliness (r=-0.303, P<0.01). Psychological capital plays a statistically significant mediating role on the relationship between perceived social support and loneliness (P<0.01)., Conclusions: Perceived social support and psychological capital can reduce adolescents' loneliness and perceived social support can alleviate loneliness by enhancing psychological capital.