From texting and social networking sites to after-school activities, young people have many opportunities to interact with one another, and yet loneliness and isolation trouble today's youth in increasing numbers. Many children and teens report feeling lonely even in the midst of family and friends, and childhood loneliness is a prime risk factor for adult alienation.
This in-depth study of the childhood loneliness relates their individual characteristics to contextual conditions at home and at school. It presents new strategies for coping with childhood loneliness, including preventive and intervention approaches.
Loneliness Conceptualization.- Abilities, Difficulties and Developmental Perspectives.- Loneliness in the Family.- School is a Lonely Place.- Peer Relations and Loneliness Within Different Cultures.- Loneliness and Virtual Connections.- Children's and Parents' Coping.- Prevention and Intervention Approaches.- Risks, Resilience, Empowerment and Hope: Summary and Future Directions.