College Students’ Social Isolation And Its Predictors:the Effects Of Family Atmosphere, Dormitory Atmosphere And Self Esteem

310 College students from 15 universities were selected to investigate their self-report social isolation, and discuss the effects of its’ predictors:family atmosphere, dormitory atmosphere and self-esteem.Items from Emotional-Social Loneliness Inventory were selected for the measurement of social isolation. Measurements of parent-child relationship, and parent control were selected from Kerr’s research. Items from Class Environment were selected for the measurements of dormitory competition, dormitory harmony. Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale was used to measure the self esteem.There was a significant main effect on social isolation for gender and only child. There was no significant main effect on social isolation for grade, province and family economic status.There were significant correlations between social isolation, mother-child relationship, father-child relationship, parent control and dormitory harmony. Dormitory competition was not correlated to the other variables except parent control.The mother-child relationship could predict social isolation when gender and only child were controlled. The dormitory harmony could predict social isolation when gender, only child and the family atmosphere variables were controlled.33.2% of the predicting effect between mother-child relationship and social isolation was mediated partly by self esteem.24.8% of the predicting effect between dormitory harmony and social isolation was mediated partly by self esteem.