| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this research was to determine the variables differentiating
the way how adult siblings experience loneliness and to indicate the sibling
relationship dimensions having a predictive value for the multifacetedly defined
phenomenon of loneliness. The research covered 153 persons at an average age of 25.5 years. Women accounted
for 36.3% of the group. The participants had adult siblings, with whom they
stayed in contact. The Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S) by E. DiTommaso, C. Brannen,
L.A. Best (2004) was used to measure a sense of loneliness in the social and
emotional dimensions. This scale was adapted to the Polish conditions by K. Adamczyk,
E. DiTommaso (2014). The quality of sibling relationships in early adulthood
was assessed by means of the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire
(ASRQ) by C. Stocker et al. (1997) in the adaptation of K. Walęcka-Matyja (2014a).
It evaluates the perception of the examined persons, their behaviours and feelings
toward their siblings as well as the perception of the siblings – their behaviours and
feelings toward the examined. The obtained research results indicate that among the considered sociodemographic
variables, only birth order was a factor differentiating the examined people
in the area of experiencing loneliness in the family dimension. Some differences
were noticed in relation to the quality of sibling relationships in the compared
groups. Sisters received significantly higher average results than brothers in the
dimensions of Warmth, Similarity, Intimacy, Acceptance and Knowledge whereas
brothers received significantly higher average results in the dimensions of Conflict
and Maternal Rivalry. There were also different constellations of the sibling relationship
dimensions having a predictive value for some specific aspects of loneliness
found in the groups of the examined sisters and brothers. In the group of sisters,
they were: Opposition and Intimacy. In the group of brothers, the predictors
of loneliness were: Paternal Rivalry, Admiration, Emotional Support, Intimacy,
Knowledge. | en_US |
