Erzen, EvrenÇıkrıkçı, Özkan2020-02-122020-02-122018Erzen, E., & Çıkrıkçı, Ö. (2018). The effect of loneliness on depression: A meta-analysis. The International Journal Of Social Psychiatry, 64(5), 427–435. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764018776349https://hdl.handle.net/11494/1970Background: Negative emotions, which have a common, chronic and recurrent structure, play a vital role in the development and maintenance of psychopathology. In this study, loneliness as a negative emotion was considered to be a predisposing factor in depression.Aim: The aim of this meta-analysis is to determine the effect of loneliness on depression.Method: Initially, a literature scan was performed and all related literature was pooled together (n=531). Based on scales determined by the researchers, it was decided to include 88 studies in the analysis. This study obtained a sampling group of 40,068 individuals.Results: The results of using a random effects model for analysis showed that loneliness had a moderately significant effect on depression. None of the variables of study sampling group, type of publication and publication year were found to be moderator variables.Conclusion: According to the results of the research, loneliness may be said to be a significant variable affecting depression. The findings obtained are discussed in light of the literature.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessLonelinessDepressionMeta-analysisArticle64542743510.1177/0020764018776349Q1N/A