Page No.237-244
Preethi Anne Ninan and Jini K. Gopinath
Christ University, Bangalore
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The concept of loneliness, as an experience with both cognitive and emotional
components, has been scientifically extended to the child population only recently.
With indications that loneliness can be reported by children as young as 5-7 years,
it becomes relevant to examine this topic in children of specific populations. In this
case, children with locomotor disabilities are examined. In addition, loneliness has
been associated theoretically with the attributional style of an individual, wherein it
is proposed that an internal-stable-global attributional style combines with other
factors to predict greater loneliness. This research aimed at examining loneliness
in relation to attributional styles in children with locomotor disabilities, studying in
inclusive or integrated education settings in Bangalore. 30 children with locomotor
disabilities were compared on scores of loneliness and attributional styles to 30
children without disabilities, using the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction
Questionnaire and the Children’s Attributional Style Questionnaire – Revised. These
scores were also analysed and results indicated that there was no significant
difference in loneliness between children with locomotor disabilities and nondisabled peers.
There was a significant difference in attributional styles between
the two groups, and a negative correlation was found between loneliness and
attributional styles in the children with locomotor disabilities. The implications of the
research include the argument for attributional retraining to address loneliness
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