Unraveling the Dynamics of Adolescent Loneliness: A Longitudinal Study of its Reciprocal Links with Perceived Control and Emotional Intelligence.

While adolescent loneliness is a prevalent mental health concern, the dynamic mechanisms that maintain or resolve these feelings remain poorly understood. Based on self-regulation theory, this study applied a longitudinal network model to map the dynamic, within-person feedback system among facets of loneliness, perceived control, and emotional intelligence, examining how these factors predict one another over time and co-occur. Data were drawn from a three-wave longitudinal study, collected at six-month intervals, from 965 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 16.01, SD = 0.59, age range = 13–21; 56.3% female; 96.9% Zhuang ethnicity). Results revealed a key vicious cycle: a low sense of control in social situations predicted higher future loneliness, and in turn, loneliness eroded adolescents’ future sense of interpersonal control. Conversely, the ability to effectively use emotions functioned as a generative resource, improving future perceived control and other emotional skills. These findings demonstrate that adolescent loneliness is not a fixed state but part of a dynamic self-regulatory system. Understanding this system, particularly the central feedback loop involving interpersonal control, provides a clearer explanation of the mechanisms by which loneliness is maintained or reduced.