Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Frederick R. Binding

Advisor Role

Thesis Supervisor

Abstract

This research examined a number of ways in which residential mobility might be related to loneliness. It was hypothesized that high mobility separates one from one’s support network of friends and family, thereby causing greater loneliness. This hypothesis and other related questions were tested with the UCLA Loneliness Scale and two questionnaires were designed for this research: the Residential Mobility Questionnaire and the Petelka Support Network Scale. These questionnaires were mailed along with a cover letter to 500 Kitchener residents who had moved in the past year and 500 residents who had not moved in the past year. Of the 1000 questionnaires mailed out, 206 were completed and returned. Level of social support was found to be positively related to two measures of residential mobility; the number of moves and the average distance of move. However, level of social support was not related to loneliness at a statistically significant level. Also, none of the measures of residential mobility were found to be significantly related to loneliness except that, contrary to expectations, those moving in the past year were less lonely than those not moving in that time. Therefore, the present study does not provide support for the hypothesis that mobility causes a breakdown or social networks which results in greater loneliness.

Convocation Year

1982

Convocation Season

Fall

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