COPING WITH LONELINESS IN ADOLESCENCE: A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

The present study examined the influence of cultural background on adolescents' ability to cope with loneliness. Three hundred and six adolescents (13–18 yrs. old) from Canada and Portugal answered an 86 item questionnaire which examined the beneficial strategies which they used to cope with loneliness. The strategies which were examined included Acceptance and reflection, Self development and understanding, Social support network, Distancing and denial, Religion and faith and Increased activity. Results revealed that adolescents of the two cultures differed on three subscales. Gender differences between, and within, cultures were also examined.