The Relationships Between Loneliness, Emotional Intelligence, and Depression Among Turkish Emerging Adults: A Moderated Moderation Model in the Gender Context

Abstract

Loneliness is a common public health problem that can influence individuals' depression outcomes. The incidence of loneliness among emerging adults is high. From this perspective, this study would serve two primary aims in Turkish emerging adults. The first was to examine the moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the relationship between loneliness and depression. The second was to test whether gender moderated this moderating effect. The study sample consisted of 456 (213 females and 243 males) university-attending emerging adults, 18–25 years old. Firstly, the findings demonstrated that loneliness was positively associated with depression. Secondly, the results showed that emotional intelligence moderated the relationship between loneliness and depression, indicating that high emotional intelligence functioned as a buffer for the contribution of loneliness to depression. In contrast, higher levels of loneliness were significantly associated with a greater risk of depression among emerging adults with low or moderate emotional intelligence. Lastly, gender did not moderate the moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the relationship between loneliness and depression. This study concluded with limitations, recommendations for future research, and practical and theoretical implications for practitioners.