The Impact of Family Functioning on College Students’ Loneliness: Chain-Mediating Effects of Core Self-Evaluation and Problematic Mobile Phone Use

PURPOSE: To examine the influence of family functioning on college students’ loneliness and the mediating effects of core self-evaluation and problematic mobile phone use. METHODS: Family Function Scale, Core Self-evaluation Scale, Problem Mobile Phone Use Scale, and Loneliness Scale were used to investigate 8,524 college students. RESULTS: (1) Family functioning positively predicted core self-evaluation (β = 0.43, p < 0.001) and negatively predicted loneliness (β = −0.21, p < 0.001); (2) Core self-evaluation negatively predicted problematic mobile phone use and loneliness (β = −0.34, p < 0.001; β = −0.50, p < 0.001); (3) Problematic mobile phone use significantly positively predicted loneliness (β = 0.05, p < 0.001); (4) Core self-evaluation and problematic mobile phone use showed a significant chain-mediation effect between family functioning and loneliness (β = −0.01, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results are helpful to comprehend the producing mechanism of loneliness and provide a theoretical basis for the intervention of loneliness.