Loneliness in Middle Childhood.

The article presents examination by researchers whether Australian and American children experience similar levels of loneliness and whether the relationship between sociometric and behavioral indices of social functioning and loneliness is similar for Australian and American children. Peer related lonliness in middle childhood has been the object of several major studies in North America. Consequently the cross-national generality of these findings remains unclear. In the present study, researchers examined whether Australian and American children experience similar levels of loneliness, whether the relationship between sociometric and behavioral indices of social functioning and loneliness is similar for Australian and American children, and whether these findings are consistent across sex and grade. An average play rating received from same sex peers was calculated and transformed to a standardized score within classes. The friendship score was the sum total of same-sex nominations that each child received. In addition, every teacher completed an eight-item social behavior rating scale for each child studied, providing information on social withdrawal versus engagement and aggressive versus prosocial behavior. Ratings for each item were standardized to account for individual differences in teachers' use of the scale and were summed to form separate scores for withdrawal and aggression.