Committee Chair

Black, Kristen Jennings, 1991-

Committee Member

O'Leary, Brian J.; Cunningham, Christopher J. L.

Department

Dept. of Psychology

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Loneliness, a discrepancy between the desired quantity and quality of one’s relationships and their current relationships, has been connected to increases in mortality, as well as lower job performance, reduced job satisfaction, and increased burnout. However more recent studies indicate that the recipient may not always perceive the support as beneficial, resulting in “unhelpful social support. The present study examined how helpful and unhelpful social support relate to loneliness among healthcare shift workers, a population that may be prone to fatigue and health risks. I hypothesized that helpful support would be negatively related to loneliness and that unhelpful support would be positively related and that these relationships would be moderated by shift. Results supported the hypotheses regarding the relationships between both kinds of support and loneliness, but the moderating effect of shift on the relationship between any form of support and loneliness was not supported.

Acknowledgments

To truly recognize who has been involved with or influenced this work would require a book in and of itself. I pray that every blessing they have placed on my life be paid back sevenfold. For now, I would like to first direct my gratitude towards Dr. Kristen Jennings-Black. This paper would never have happened if not for your ever-helpful support. Your oversight and perspective, as well as your professional insight truly have set me up for success. I am thankful for your patience and willingness to explain things to me at each step along the way and look forward to working with you again. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Chris Cunningham and Dr. Brian O’Leary for their suggestions to improve this project, as well as being willing to support me whenever I happened to find their office doors open. I also owe a great debt of gratitude to my family. I am so thankful to have grown up with and learned from you all. It means so much to me that you show interest in my work and I am ever grateful for your support on the path ahead. I would not be who I am today without your influence in my life. Finally, I would like to thank the friends (at every stage of my life), who in all truth have become family as well. Thanks for keeping me sane and for giving me something to look forward to when I see you again, whether it be in days, weeks, months, or years.

Degree

M. A.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts.

Date

5-2026

Subject

Employees--Social networks; Loneliness; Social isolation

Keyword

Social support; Unhelpful social support; Loneliness; Night Shift; Workplace Support; Nonwork Support

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

xi, 89 leaves

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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