University Students' Personality Traits as Predictors of their Loneliness Levels

Year 2016, Volume: 45 Issue: 2, 131 - 146, 01.09.2016

Gökay Keldal , Abdullah Atlı

Abstract

The
purpose of this study is to determine to what extent the personality traits
based on the Five Factor Theory (extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness,
openness to experience) predict loneliness levels of university students. The
study group of the research was composed of 433 students (260 female and 173 male
students) who were attending Inonu University and Nigde University in the
academic year of 2013-2014. As the data collection tools, the UCLA Loneliness
Scale and the Five Factor Personality Inventory were used in the study. The
data analysis was performed using correlation and multiple regression analysis
methods. According to the findings of the research, the personality traits of
extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, and openness to experience are
significant predictors of university students' loneliness levels. Consequently,
the personality traits based on the Five Factor Theory explained 28% of the
variance in loneliness scores of university students.

Keywords

Loneliness, Personality, Personality traits, University

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