Perceived social isolation and cognition

Cannabidiol Modulates Emotional Function and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Middle-Aged Female Rats Exposed to Social Isolation

Aging is associated with changes in cognitive and emotional function. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been reported to attenuate stress and anxiety in human and animal studies. In this study, we aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of CBD among middle-aged female rats exposed to social isolation (SI) and the potential involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in these effects. Thirteen-month-old female rats were group-housed (GH) or exposed to social isolation (SI) and treated with vehicle or CBD (10 mg/kg). CBD restored the SI-induced immobility in the forced swim test and the SI-induced decrease in the expression of BDNF protein levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). CBD also increased the time that rats spent in the center in an open field, improved spatial training, and increased BDNF expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA). BDNF expression was found to be correlated with an antidepressant (in the NAc) and an anxiolytic (in the mPFC, BLA, NAc) phenotype, and with learning improvement in the PFC. Together, our results suggest that CBD may serve as a beneficial agent for wellbeing in old age and may help with age-related cognitive decline.

Association between bullying victimization and post-traumatic stress disorders among Chinese adolescents: a multiple mediation model

BACKGROUND

Research that focused on the mechanisms underlying the relation between school bullying victimization and PTSD ignored the simultaneous effect of emotional and cognitive factors, which may limit our comprehensive understanding of their roles. Besides, most researchers included non-bullying victims in data analysis, and this may mask the true effect among bullying victims. The present study aimed to explore the relation between bullying victimization and PTSD, and the mediating roles of social anxiety, loneliness, and rumination, after filtering out non-bullying victims.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In April 2019, we used convenience sampling to recruit 5013 students from Grade 10 and 11 in two high schools in Anhui Province, China. The mean age of these students was 16.77 (SD = 0.92) years. They completed five self-report questionnaires including the Delaware Bullying Victimization Scale-Student Chinese Revision (DBVS-S), the modified PTSD Checklist, the Social Anxiety Scale, the Adolescent Loneliness Scale, and the Rumination Scale. Further, a total of 443 bullying victims were screened out for this study according to the critical score of the DBVS-S.

RESULTS

The results showed that bullying victimization had a direct and positive association with PTSD among adolescents (β = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.046-0.252). Bullying victimization was positively associated with PTSD through increasing adolescents' social anxiety (β = 0.06, 95%CI: 0.017-0.105), as well as through increasing their loneliness (β = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.109-0.215). In addition, bullying victimization was positively associated with PTSD through social anxiety via loneliness (β = 0.04, 95%CI: 0.013-0.067), as well as through loneliness via rumination (β = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.003-0.033). Bullying victimization was also positively associated with PTSD through a three-step path from social anxiety to rumination via loneliness (β = 0.004, 95%CI: 0.001-0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Social anxiety, loneliness, and rumination have important mediating effects in the relation between bullying victimization and adolescents' PTSD, in which emotional factors (e.g., social anxiety, loneliness) are more crucial than cognitive factors (e.g., rumination). Intervention should pay more attention to timely alleviate victims' emotional problems to reduce the risk of developing PTSD.

Examining the Bidirectional Nature of Loneliness and Anxiety Among Older Adults in Daily Life

OBJECTIVES

Loneliness in later life increases the risk for adverse health outcomes; however, less is known about how loneliness is maintained. Anxiety may play an important role in maintaining loneliness, but little is known about how this connection plays out over time in daily life. This study thus focused on the within-person associations between momentary loneliness and anxiety among older adults.

METHODS

Participants were 317 diverse older adults (40% Black; 13% Hispanic, mean age = 77.45 years, 67% women) systematically recruited from the Bronx, NY, who completed ecological momentary assessments 5 times daily for 14 consecutive days. Multilevel models tested bidirectional contemporaneous, momentary cross-lagged (t - 1), day-level cross-lagged (average day to end of day), and day-to-day cross-lagged associations between loneliness and anxiety. Separate sensitivity analyses controlled for concurrent overall mood valence or depressed state. Gender and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) status were tested as moderators at all timescales.

RESULTS

Significant bidirectional associations between loneliness and anxiety were found at the contemporaneous and momentary cross-lagged (t - 1) timescales. Higher average daily loneliness predicted higher end-of-day anxiety, but not vice versa. Loneliness and anxiety were not significantly associated from day to day. Sensitivity analyses revealed some associations varied depending on inclusion of either concurrent mood valence or depressed state. Neither gender nor MCI status moderated associations at any timescale.

DISCUSSION

Findings shed light on the complex temporal ordering of loneliness and anxiety in daily life and extend contemporary theoretical notions of loneliness, including the possibility of interventions that target key moments in daily life.

Neighborhood Cohesion Across the Life Course and Effects on Cognitive Aging

OBJECTIVES

Greater neighborhood cohesion is associated with better cognitive function in adulthood and may serve as a protective factor against cognitive impairment and decline. We build on prior work by examining the effects of perceived neighborhood cohesion across the life course on level and change in cognitive function in adulthood.

METHODS

Utilizing longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2016) and its Life History Mail Survey, we leveraged data from 3,599 study participants (baseline age: 51-89) who participated in up to 10 waves. Respondents provided retrospective ratings of neighborhood cohesion at childhood (age 10), young adulthood (age at the first full-time job), early midlife (age 40), and concurrently at baseline (i.e., late midlife/adulthood); they completed the modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. We fit a univariate latent growth curve model of change in cognitive function across waves and tested whether neighborhood cohesion during each recollected life stage predicted level and change in cognitive function.

RESULTS

Greater neighborhood cohesion during childhood and late midlife/adulthood each predicted higher cognitive function at baseline but not the rate of cognitive decline. The final model showed that greater neighborhood cohesion in childhood and in late midlife/adulthood remained significantly associated with higher baseline cognitive function, even after accounting for one another.

DISCUSSION

Findings provide insight into life-course neighborhood contextual influences on cognitive aging. Our results emphasize the need for more research to understand the life-course dynamics between neighborhood environments and cognitive aging.

Visualizing Compassion: Episodic Simulation as Contemplative Practice

Contemplative interventions designed to cultivate compassion are receiving increasing empirical attention. Accumulating evidence suggests that these interventions bolster prosocial motivation and warmth towards others. Less is known about how these practices impact compassion in everyday life. Here we consider one mechanistic pathway through which compassion practices may impact perception and action in the world: simulation. Evidence suggests that vividly imagining a situation simulates that experience in the brain as if it were, to a degree, actually happening. Thus, we hypothesize that simulation during imagery-based contemplative practices can construct sensorimotor patterns in the brain that prime an individual to act compassionately in the world. We first present evidence across multiple literatures in Psychology that motivates this hypothesis, including the neuroscience of mental imagery and the emerging literature on prosocial episodic simulation. Then, we examine the specific contemplative practices in compassion-based interventions that may construct such simulations. We conclude with future directions for investigating how compassion-based interventions may shape prosocial perception and action in everyday life.

Iterative Design, Feasibility, and Preliminary Efficacy Testing for the Development of a Cooperative Card Game Intervention to Reduce Loneliness and Foster Social Connection

Objective: To present the design, development, and pilot testing of Connections, an empirically derived cooperative card game intervention to reduce loneliness and enhance connection. Materials and Methods: Theory and empirical evidence from domains such as self-disclosure, interpersonal closeness, and serious games informed the design of this game. Iterative design was used to develop the intervention, followed by feasibility and preliminary efficacy pilot testing. Results: Pilot testing showed that participants felt confident playing the game and found Connections to be enjoyable, interesting, and helpful in building connections with others, and would recommend the game to others. Preliminary evaluation found statistically significant benefits across multiple domains after playing the game. Participants reported decreases in loneliness, depressed mood, and anxiousness (ps < 0.02). Additionally, participants reported increases in looking forward to forming new connections with others in the future, the degree to which they felt like opening up and talking to others, and the amount they felt like they had in common with others (ps < 0.05). Conclusion: Pilot testing of Connections demonstrated feasibility and preliminary impact among a community sample. Future development plans include minor revisions to the game instructions followed by more rigorous testing of the feasibility, usability, and efficacy of Connections among various settings and populations, with large samples and controlled trials.

Attachment across the lifespan: Examining the intersection of pair bonding neurobiology and healthy aging

Increasing evidence suggests that intact social bonds are protective against age-related morbidity, while bond disruption and social isolation increase the risk for multiple age-related diseases. Social attachments, the enduring, selective bonds formed between individuals, are thus essential to human health. Socially monogamous species like the prairie vole (M. ochrogaster) form long-term pair bonds, allowing us to investigate the mechanisms underlying attachment and the poorly understood connection between social bonds and health. In this review, we explore several potential areas of focus emerging from data in humans and other species associating attachment and healthy aging, and evidence from prairie voles that may clarify this link. We examine gaps in our understanding of social cognition and pair bond behavior. Finally, we discuss physiologic pathways related to pair bonding that promote resilience to the processes of aging and age-related disease. Advances in the development of molecular genetic tools in monogamous species will allow us to bridge the mechanistic gaps presented and identify conserved research and therapeutic targets relevant to human health and aging.

Comorbidity of loneliness and social anxiety in adolescents: Bridge symptoms and peer relationships

RATIONALE

Previous research investigating the comorbidity of loneliness and social anxiety symptoms in population samples has relied on latent variable modeling in which averaged scores representing dimensions were derived from observed symptoms. Studies have not examined how loneliness and social anxiety co-occur at the symptom level or their relations with peer relationships.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the comorbidity of loneliness and social anxiety and the role of peer relationships (i.e., the number of reciprocated friends, friendship quality, and bullying victimization) in adolescents' co-occurring network using a large sample of Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

We performed a network analysis in a sample of Chinese adolescents (N = 2601, 51.6% male, M age = 13.9 years, SD = 0.60). Participants completed self-report measures of loneliness, social anxiety, bullying victimization, and friendship quality as well as peer nomination measures of the number of reciprocated friends.

RESULTS

Network analysis revealed that feeling ridiculed, fear of being rejected, having difficulty asking others to do things together, and feeling left out at school were essential bridge symptoms in the co-occurrence of loneliness and social anxiety. Bullying victimization had more positive associations with symptoms of social anxiety, and friendship quality had more negative associations with symptoms of loneliness.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provide preliminary evidence for the comorbidity of loneliness and social anxiety symptoms in adolescents. The results also highlight the potential importance of targeting peer relationships in the prevention and intervention of loneliness and social anxiety symptoms. The combination of longitudinal networks and interventions on bridge symptoms may provide further insight into the development of the links between peer relationships, loneliness, and social anxiety symptoms.

Listen to resonate: Better listening as a gateway to interpersonal positivity resonance through enhanced sensory connection and perceived safety

Although often experienced individually, emotions are at times co-experienced with others, collectively. One type of collective emotion, termed positivity resonance, refers to coexperienced positive affect accompanied by caring non-verbal behavioral synchrony and biological synchrony across persons. Growing evidence illustrates the contributions of positivity resonance to individual, relational, and community well-being. Two conditions theorized as conducive for the emergence of positivity resonance are real-time sensory connection and perceived safety. Here, we explore listening as an interpersonal process that can serve to enhance real-time sensory connection and perceived safety and thereby increase positivity resonance among conversation partners. Specifically, we present evidence that connects listening to direct gaze (i.e., real-time sensory connection) and psychological safety (i.e., perceived safety). We close by offering a framework to guide future research that can test whether and how conversational listening functions to create more moments of positivity resonance in interpersonal contexts.

Diversity of Group Memberships Predicts Well-Being: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Evidence

Groups have their health and well-being impacted by satisfying their members' needs and providing resources to help cope with threats. Multiple group memberships serve to accumulate these benefits and also provide resilience to the effects of group loss. However, the additional well-being benefits of belonging to multiple different types of group remain to be determined. In a preregistered cross-sectional survey in Nottingham, England (Study 1, N = 328), we found that group-type diversity predicted well-being and that this effect was fully serially mediated by increased creative self-efficacy, then reduced loneliness. To confirm our hypothesis in a more robust sample we conducted longitudinal analyses on the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) dataset (Study 2, N = 5,838) finding that group-type diversity at time one (T1) predicted well-being at T2 (4 years later), even when accounting for wellbeing and loneliness at T1. We discuss the implications for enhancing group-based health interventions.

An ethnography study exploring factors that influence social isolation in care home residents living with dementia and hearing loss

BACKGROUND

Hearing loss and dementia are highly prevalent conditions amongst older adults living in residential care. The consequences of living with these conditions may include social withdrawal and reduced communication opportunities. We sought to examine patterns of communication and interaction in residential care and explore resident, staff, and relative perspectives within two care homes located in Birmingham, UK. This enabled an understanding of how communication environments contributed to social isolation.

METHODS

This work used ethnography methodology to explore mechanisms that created and maintained social isolation in older adults living with dementia and hearing loss. A planning and engagement phase took place in four care homes. This was followed by an environmental audit, observations, and interviews. Data generated were analysed using Grounded Theory methods.

RESULTS

There were 33 participants (16 residents, 11 care staff, and six relatives) who took part in the observations and interviews. Residents experienced social isolation through lack of meaningful conversation with others and being misunderstood. Additionally, observations of residents' interactions informed the overall findings. A Grounded Theory model was employed to explain the core phenomenon of social isolation. The main contributors were internal and external barriers to communication, and reduced opportunities for meaningful conversation.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a wide range of social isolation that care home residents experience. This was not always associated with the severity of hearing loss but rather communication ability. Simple interventions such as staff dining with residents and focussing on improving communication could reduce social isolation within residential care settings.

Mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic among residents of Jimma town: a cross-sectional study

The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to community wellbeing and mental health. However, quantifiable information on the extent of mental health problems and associated factors due to the pandemic is still lacking in low-income countries. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and their association with risk and resilience factors among residents of Jimma town in Southwestern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2021 and November 2021. Data were collected from 1196 adult Jimma town residents selected through multi-stage sampling. The following scales were used for the cross-sectional assessment of depressions, anxiety and stress and their associations: depression, anxiety, and stress-21(DASS-21), World Health Organization (WHO) wellbeing, University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA), Childhood trauma questionnaire, and brief resilience scales. A pre-tested, interviewer-completed questionnaire was used for data collection. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Odds ratios consistent with 95% CI were used to report the presence of an association between risk and resilience factors and the outcome variable at a P-value < 0.05. Overall, 963 (80.53%) respondents had divergent DASS-21 score findings. Specifically, 27.68%, 31.52% and 21.32% experienced depression, anxiety, and stress respectively. Higher DASS-21 scores were associated with the presence of one or more COVID-19 risk factors for anyone close to the participants (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.03-2.27), feelings of stress/burden (β = 1.09, 95% CI 1.07-1.12), positive coping (β = 1.044, 95% CI 1.01-1.07), loneliness (β = 1.063, 95% CI 1.04-1.08), and childhood trauma (β = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.04). In contrast, lower DASS-21 scores were associated with beliefs about the necessity of solidarity-based behavior (β = 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.98), resilience (β = 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.97) and wellbeing (β = 0.90, 95% CI 0.87-0.94). In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in the study community were prevalent, and associated with numerous risk and resilience factors. Although causality cannot be inferred, these findings underscore the importance of strengthening mental health services and may guide COVID-19 prevention and treatment strategies.

Social Withdrawal, Loneliness, and Health in Schizophrenia: Psychological and Neural Mechanisms

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Some of the most debilitating aspects of schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses (SMI) are the impairments in social perception, motivation, and behavior that frequently accompany these conditions. These impairments may ultimately lead to chronic social disconnection (ie, social withdrawal, objective isolation, and perceived social isolation or loneliness), which may contribute to the poor cardiometabolic health and early mortality commonly observed in SMI. However, the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying relationships between impairments in social perception and motivation and social isolation and loneliness in SMI remain incompletely understood.

STUDY DESIGN

A narrative, selective review of studies on social withdrawal, isolation, loneliness, and health in SMI.

STUDY RESULTS

We describe some of what is known and hypothesized about the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of social disconnection in the general population, and how these mechanisms may contribute to social isolation and loneliness, and their consequences, in individuals with SMI.

CONCLUSIONS

A synthesis of evolutionary and cognitive theories with the "social homeostasis" model of social isolation and loneliness represents one testable framework for understanding the dynamic cognitive and biological correlates, as well as the health consequences, of social disconnection in SMI. The development of such an understanding may provide the basis for novel approaches for preventing or treating both functional disability and poor physical health that diminish the quality and length of life for many individuals with these conditions.

Joint trajectories of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and social anxiety from middle childhood to early adolescence: associations with suicidal ideation

This study examined the joint trajectories of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and social anxiety from middle childhood to early adolescence and their associations with suicidal ideation. A total of 643 Chinese elementary school students (55.2% male; Mage = 9.01; SD = 0.75; range = 7 to 11 years at T1) completed measures on six occasions at 6-month intervals. Parallel process latent class growth models revealed five distinct trajectories of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and social anxiety: "congruent-low" (45.1%), "moderately low with predominant loneliness and depressive symptoms" (15.7%), "moderate with predominant loneliness and depressive symptoms" (4.2%), "moderately low with predominant social anxiety" (24.9%), and "congruent-high" (10.1%). The highest suicidal ideation was observed among adolescents who persistently experienced two or three symptoms, followed by those who persistently experienced one predominant symptom, and finally, adolescents who persistently experienced low levels of all three symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences considerations in understanding the joint patterns of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and social anxiety among youth during the transition into adolescence and the need for more sophisticated intervention programs tailored to the unique characteristics of the relevant trajectories to reduce the risk of suicidal ideation.

Feeling Lonely, Engaging Online During the Outbreak of COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study of Chinese Older Adults

Background and Objectives

There is growing concern that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated social distancing policies may exacerbate mental health problems in older adults. Most studies primarily have focused on developed countries, whereas the mental consequences of the pandemic in developing countries are less well known. This study evaluates the influences of the global pandemic in relation to loneliness and family contact among older Chinese adults and examines the roles of internet adoption in alleviating the emotional experience of loneliness.

Research Design and Methods

We run individual fixed effects regression models using the 2018 and 2020 waves of the Chinese Family Panel Studies survey with 4,944 respondents aged 60 and above to capture the average within-person changes before and after the first outbreak of COVID-19 in China. We further examine the mediating effects of internet adoption on loneliness using structural equation modeling (SEM). Simultaneous SEM tested the effects of internet literacy and social network site use, and heterogeneous effects analyses were also conducted across subgroups.

Results

Fixed effects estimates indicated increased loneliness and decreased family contact during the pandemic. Moreover, more older adults were found to use the internet in 2020. The fixed-effect estimations and structural equation models consistently found that older adults' use of the internet contributed to more social contacts and virtual meetings with their children, which have alleviated the emotional experience of loneliness.

Discussion and Implications

Digital inclusion of older adults to adopt the internet can be beneficial to improve mental well-being and alleviate loneliness during times of pandemic crisis. The targeted acceleration of digitalization to reduce the digital divide needs to be considered.

The boundary between real and fictional others in the medial prefrontal cortex is blurred in lonelier individuals

People spend much of their free time engaging with narrative fiction. Research shows that, like real-life friends, fictional characters can sometimes influence individuals' attitudes, behaviors, and self-beliefs. Moreover, for certain individuals, fictional characters can stand in for real-life friends by providing the experience of belonging. Despite these parallels between how people think of real and fictional others, it is unclear whether, and to what degree, their neural representations are similar. Does the brain treat psychologically close fictional others as it does close real-world friends, or are real others somehow privileged in their neural representation? In the present study, fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones performed a trait-evaluation task for the self, 9 real-life friends/acquaintances, and 9 fictional characters from Game of Thrones while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. Using both brain decoding and representational similarity analysis, we found evidence of a categorical boundary between real and fictional others within the medial prefrontal cortex. However, the boundary between these categories was blurred in lonelier individuals. These results suggest that lonelier individuals may turn to fictional characters to meet belongingness needs, and this, in turn, alters the manner in which these categories are encoded within the social brain.

Why should I switch on my camera? Developing the cognitive skills of compassionate communications for online group/teamwork management

Introduction

Associated with learning and social isolation from each other during the pandemic-driven transition to online platforms in Higher Education (HE), many students were, and remain, reluctant to turn on their video cameras to be present with each other during their online meetings.Using the Compassionate Mind Foundation's definition of compassion, not as an emotion, but as a psychobiological motivation to take wise action to help when self or others struggle, this comparative study examined (a) the deployment by students during online, task-focused group/team meetings, of taught verbal and non-verbal communication strategies that were explicitly compassionate and (b) the effects of these strategies on each other's social and learning experiences in these meetings, compared to when they did not use them.

Methods

Twenty-four STEM students from a sample of five Sri Lankan universities, were mixed, then divided into six groups of four students per group. This mixed-methods study, video-recorded and analyzed each group's task-focused group meetings before, then after, an online interactive 90-min training session (the intervention) in the Cognitive Skills of Compassionate Communications (CSCC) for groups/teams.

Results

Using R, SPSS and Microsoft Excel to analyse the quantitative data, a statistically significant improvement in students' screen-gaze attentiveness was identified after the CSCC intervention. The qualitative data analysis explained this and other behavioral changes that were shown to enhance students' social and learning experiences in their online meetings.Given the strong historical and political drivers of current divisions across Sri Lankan student communities, these findings call for more urgent research on compassion as a cognitive competence for accelerating group/team cohesion and criticality across HE, and beyond.

Social engagement and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between age-related hearing loss and cognitive status

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the third leading cause of years lived with disability. Connections among ARHL, depressive symptoms, social engagement and cognitive status are increasingly reported but the underlying mechanisms leading to these relationships are largely unknown. Exploring these mechanisms is a worthy goal, especially in older adults. This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of social engagement and depressive symptoms on the relationship between ARHL and cognitive status.

METHODS

Structural equation modeling (SEM) with path analysis were performed with data from a cross-sectional study conducted in 11 community centers in 2021, which assessed older adults' intrinsic and sensory capacities using the WHO ICOPE framework. Demographic information, health profile, a binary measure of hearing capacity, depressive symptoms, social engagement, and cognitive status of participants were gathered.

RESULTS

A total of 304 participants were included. ARHL was positively associated with depressive symptoms (β = 0.18, p = 0.009) and negatively related to social engagement (β = -0.13, p = 0.026). Social engagement was positively associated with cognitive status (β = 0.17, p = 0.005) and negatively associated with depressive symptoms (β = -0.23, p < 0.001). Greater depressive symptoms were negatively associated with the participants' cognition (β = -0.13, p = 0.009). Both social engagement (β = -0.02, p = 0.029) and depressive symptoms (β = -0.02, p = 0.032) mediated the negative associations between ARHL and cognitive status.

CONCLUSIONS

Addressing hearing loss, depressive symptoms, and enhancing social engagement should be investigated as a potential means of minimizing cognitive decline. Well-designed studies are needed to comprehensively inform the clinical practice development, particularly large prospective studies that will facilitate further elucidate possible causal mechanisms behind these observed associations.

The prevalence of chronic and episodic loneliness and social isolation from a longitudinal survey

Loneliness and social isolation, experienced more long-term, has been shown to increase mortality and lead to poorer health outcomes in specific cohorts. However, it is unclear what the prevalence of chronic loneliness and social isolation is, and which demographic groups are most at risk of reporting more chronic forms. A psychometrically validated classification system was used to identify people who met criteria for episodic and chronic loneliness and social isolation using the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey waves 14-18. The prevalence of loneliness (overall 34%; 21% episodic, 13% chronic) far exceeded that of social isolation (overall 17%; 13% episodic, 4% chronic). There was consistency in the demographic characteristics (from age, sex, household type, income) of those who experienced loneliness and social isolation. However, people with a long-term health condition had an elevated risk of episodic loneliness (AOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.11-1.39) and a markedly higher risk of chronic loneliness (AOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.76-2.29), compared with those without a long-term health condition. Loneliness, both episodic and chronic subtypes, is more prevalent than social isolation. However, both chronic loneliness and social isolation remains neglected and poorly targeted within current practice and policy.

The role of social cohesion in explaining rural/urban differences in healthcare access and health status among older adults in the mid-Atlantic United States

Social cohesion can influence health. It is higher among rural versus urban residents, but the burden of chronic disease is higher in rural communities. We examined the role of social cohesion in explaining rural/urban differences in healthcare access and health status. Rural (n = 1080) and urban (n = 1846) adults (ages 50+) from seven mid-Atlantic U.S. states completed an online, cross-sectional survey on social cohesion and health. We conducted bivariate and multivariable analyses to evaluate the relationships of rurality and social cohesion with healthcare access and health status. Rural participants had higher social cohesion scores than did urban participants (rural: mean = 61.7, standard error[SE] = 0.40; urban: mean = 60.6, SE = 0.35; adjusted beta = 1.45, SE = 0.54, p < .01). Higher social cohesion was associated with greater healthcare access: last-year check-up: adjusted odds ratio[aOR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval[CI] = 1.17-1.33; having a personal provider: aOR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.03-1.18; and being up-to-date with CRC screening: aOR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.10-1.25. In addition, higher social cohesion was associated with improved health status: higher mental health scores (adjusted beta = 1.03, SE = 0.15, p < .001) and lower body mass index (BMI; beta = -0.26, SE = 0.10, p = .01). Compared to urban participants, rural participants were less likely to have a personal provider, had lower physical and mental health scores, and had higher BMI. Paradoxically, rural residents had higher social cohesion but generally poorer health outcomes than did urban residents, even though higher social cohesion is associated with better health. These findings have implications for research and policy to promote social cohesion and health, particularly for health promotion interventions to reduce disparities experienced by rural residents.

The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation

Social adaptation arises from the interaction between the individual and the social environment. However, little empirical evidence exists regarding the relationship between social contact and social adaptation. We propose that loneliness and social networks are key factors explaining social adaptation. Sixty-four healthy subjects with no history of psychiatric conditions participated in this study. All participants completed self-report questionnaires about loneliness, social network, and social adaptation. On a separate day, subjects underwent a resting state fMRI recording session. A hierarchical regression model on self-report data revealed that loneliness and social network were negatively and positively associated with social adaptation. Functional connectivity (FC) analysis showed that loneliness was associated with decreased FC between the fronto-amygdalar and fronto-parietal regions. In contrast, the social network was positively associated with FC between the fronto-temporo-parietal network. Finally, an integrative path model examined the combined effects of behavioral and brain predictors of social adaptation. The model revealed that social networks mediated the effects of loneliness on social adaptation. Further, loneliness-related abnormal brain FC (previously shown to be associated with difficulties in cognitive control, emotion regulation, and sociocognitive processes) emerged as the strongest predictor of poor social adaptation. Findings offer insights into the brain indicators of social adaptation and highlight the role of social networks as a buffer against the maladaptive effects of loneliness. These findings can inform interventions aimed at minimizing loneliness and promoting social adaptation and are especially relevant due to the high prevalence of loneliness around the globe. These findings also serve the study of social adaptation since they provide potential neurocognitive factors that could influence social adaptation.

[Loneliness and its association with sociodemographic and health indicators in Brazilian adults and older adults: ELSI-Brazil]

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of loneliness and its associations with sociodemographic and health indicators in a nationally representative sample of Brazilian adults and older adults. Data from the baseline (2015-2016) of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) were analyzed, and participants with complete information on the variables of interest (n = 7,957) were included. Loneliness was the outcome variable, which was based on the question "How often do you feel alone or lonely: always, sometimes, or never?" Independent variables included sociodemographic indicators and health behaviors and conditions. The analyses included the Pearson's chi-square test for calculating relative frequencies, and Poisson regression for estimating prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The prevalence of always feeling lonely was 16.8%; sometimes, 31.7%; and never, 51.5%. Significant associations were observed between always feeling lonely and depression (PR = 4.49; 95%CI: 3.93-5.11), living alone (PR = 2.44; 95%CI: 2.12-2.82), low education level (PR = 1.93; 95%CI: 1.61-2.32), being a woman (PR = 1.53; 95%CI: 1.36-1.72), self-rated poor/very poor health (PR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.27-1.73), and poor/very poor sleep quality (PR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.05-1.41). Given its potential to harm quality of life, it is necessary to longitudinally understand the trajectories of loneliness and associated variables, and to use this knowledge to design public policies and health interventions that could benefit the biopsychosocial well-being of Brazilian adults and older adults.

Perceived Parental Support and Psychological Control, DNA Methylation, and Loneliness: Longitudinal Associations Across Early Adolescence

A broad range of factors have been associated with the development of adolescent loneliness. In the family context, a lack of parental support and high levels of parental psychological control have systematically been linked to loneliness. On the biological level, DNA methylation (which is an epigenetic process that suppresses gene expression) is believed to play a role in the development of loneliness. Specifically, high levels of DNA methylation in genes that play an important role in the functioning of the human stress response system are believed to elevate the risk of loneliness. Moreover, DNA methylation levels in these stress-related genes can be influenced by stressful environmental factors, suggesting a potential mediating role of DNA methylation in the association between parenting behaviors and loneliness. The current 3-year longitudinal study is the first study to examine the potential bidirectional longitudinal associations between loneliness, DNA methylation in stress-related genes, and both perceived parental support and psychological control. Furthermore, we explored the potential mediating role of DNA methylation in stress-related genes in the associations between perceived parenting and loneliness. The sample comprised 622 early adolescents (55% girls, M_{age T1} = 10.77 years, SD_{age T1} = 0.48) who were followed from Grade 5 to 7. Parental support, psychological control, and loneliness were assessed annually by adolescent self-report questionnaires and DNA methylation was determined from saliva samples. Cross-Lagged Panel Models (CLPM) revealed that higher levels of loneliness predicted lower perceived parental support and higher perceived psychological control over time, as well as higher DNA methylation in some stress-related genes, that is, the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In addition, higher NR3C1 methylation was predictive of lower perceived parental support and higher psychological control over time. No evidence was found for a mediating role of DNA methylation. Overall, our longitudinal findings challenge the current focus on DNA methylation and parenting behaviors as risk factors for adolescent loneliness. Instead, they suggest that the less considered direction of effects, which implies that loneliness predicts DNA methylation and aspects of parenting such as support and psychological control, should receive greater attention in future research.

Relationships between Physical Activity and Selected Chronic Diseases among Functionally Independent Long-Term Care Residents during the Post-Lockdown Period in Croatia

The aim of this observational study was to investigate the level and association of physical activity and selected chronic diseases in functionally independent LTC residents after prolonged physical and social isolation during COVID-19 in Croatia. Adhering to the inclusion criteria, 180 functionally independent residents were included in the study. Assessment of physical activity was carried out by 7-day motor monitoring. Prolonged physical and social isolation negatively affected the achieved level of physical activity of LTC residents (x¯ = 5058.74). Major depressive disorder resulted in significantly lower residents' physical activity scores, demonstrating a shrinking effect ranging from 0.42 to 0.45. A significant negative impact on the residents' physical activity was also found in the presence of osteoarthritis and iron deficiency anemia, where a downward effect was present in the range from 0.66-0.72 and 0.64 to 0.66. The presence of comorbidities has a significant negative impact on the residents' physical activity, where a downward effect is present in the range from 0.91-0.92.

Review of Major Social Determinants of Health in Schizophrenia-Spectrum Psychotic Disorders: III. Biology

BACKGROUND

Social determinants of health (SDoHs) are nonmedical factors that significantly impact health and longevity. We found no published reviews on the biology of SDoHs in schizophrenia-spectrum psychotic disorders (SSPD).

STUDY DESIGN

We present an overview of pathophysiological mechanisms and neurobiological processes plausibly involved in the effects of major SDoHs on clinical outcomes in SSPD.

STUDY RESULTS

This review of the biology of SDoHs focuses on early-life adversities, poverty, social disconnection, discrimination including racism, migration, disadvantaged neighborhoods, and food insecurity. These factors interact with psychological and biological factors to increase the risk and worsen the course and prognosis of schizophrenia. Published studies on the topic are limited by cross-sectional design, variable clinical and biomarker assessments, heterogeneous methods, and a lack of control for confounding variables. Drawing on preclinical and clinical studies, we propose a biological framework to consider the likely pathogenesis. Putative systemic pathophysiological processes include epigenetics, allostatic load, accelerated aging with inflammation (inflammaging), and the microbiome. These processes affect neural structures, brain function, neurochemistry, and neuroplasticity, impacting the development of psychosis, quality of life, cognitive impairment, physical comorbidities, and premature mortality. Our model provides a framework for research that could lead to developing specific strategies for prevention and treatment of the risk factors and biological processes, thereby improving the quality of life and increasing the longevity of people with SSPD.

CONCLUSIONS

Biology of SDoHs in SSPD is an exciting area of research that points to innovative multidisciplinary team science for improving the course and prognosis of these serious psychiatric disorders.

Loneliness and Functional Decline in Aging: A Systematic Review

Loneliness is prevalent in adults aged ≥65 years in the United States and is associated with functional decline. The purpose of the current review was to synthesize evidence on the relationship between loneliness and functional decline using Roy's Adaptation Model as a theoretical framework. A comprehensive review of PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases was performed. Inclusion criteria were samples including adults primarily aged >60 years, peer-reviewed, published in the English language, and included a measure for loneliness and function. A total of 47 studies were analyzed. Most studies examined correlates, risk factors, and predictors of loneliness, rather than the relationship between loneliness and function. Evidence suggests there is bidirectionality in the relationship between loneliness and functional decline. Loneliness is associated with functional decline in aging via multiple possible pathways. Further studies are needed to determine causality and biological mechanisms underlying the relationship. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 16(4), 202-212.].

Age differences in functional brain networks associated with loneliness and empathy

Loneliness is associated with differences in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) within and between large-scale networks in early- and middle-aged adult cohorts. However, age-related changes in associations between sociality and brain function into late adulthood are not well understood. Here, we examined age differences in the association between two dimensions of sociality-loneliness and empathic responding-and RSFC of the cerebral cortex. Self-report measures of loneliness and empathy were inversely related across the entire sample of younger (mean age = 22.6y, n = 128) and older (mean age = 69.0y, n = 92) adults. Using multivariate analyses of multi-echo fMRI RSFC, we identified distinct functional connectivity patterns for individual and age group differences associated with loneliness and empathic responding. Loneliness in young and empathy in both age groups was related to greater visual network integration with association networks (e.g., default, fronto-parietal control). In contrast, loneliness was positively related to within- and between-network integration of association networks for older adults. These results extend our previous findings in early- and middle-aged cohorts, demonstrating that brain systems associated with loneliness, as well as empathy, differ in older age. Further, the findings suggest that these two aspects of social experience engage different neurocognitive processes across human life-span development.

Longitudinal Dyadic Associations Between Loneliness and Cognition Among Older Couples in the United States

OBJECTIVES

Loneliness is associated with diminished health and cognition for older individuals. However, little research has examined dyadic loneliness-that is, loneliness of both partners in a relationship-and its potential consequences for cognitive functioning among both spouses, nor whether one partner's cognition may affect both partners' loneliness over time.

METHODS

We analyze 3-wave dyadic Health and Retirement Study data (2010-2020; N = 1,061 dyads) to determine (a) whether loneliness predicts participants' own and/or their partners' episodic memory and verbal fluency over 8 years, and (b) whether cognitive functioning predicts older spouses' own or their partners' loneliness over the same period.

RESULTS

Loneliness predicted participants' own and their partners' loneliness at follow-up, at both time points. Loneliness was also associated with own episodic memory at follow-up, but not with verbal fluency. Episodic memory and verbal fluency predicted one another over time. Neither episodic memory nor verbal fluency predicted loneliness at follow-up. Significant dyadic mediation was established such that Time 1 loneliness was linked with partner's Time 3 episodic memory via that partner's Time 2 loneliness.

DISCUSSION

Lonelier older adults displayed worse trajectories of episodic memory over time, yet poor memory did not precede changes to loneliness. Further, having a lonely partner was linked with poorer episodic memory 8 years later, indicating that both one's own and-to a lesser extent-a partner's emotional well-being may be consequential for maintaining cognitive functioning with age. Associations were more clearly established with episodic memory than with verbal fluency, suggesting potential domain-specific effects of loneliness.

Hearing loss and its link to cognitive impairment and dementia

Hearing loss is an important risk factor for the development of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mid-life hearing loss increases the risk of developing dementia by double any other single factor. However, given this strong connection between hearing loss and AD, the mechanisms responsible for this link are still unknown. Data from observational studies relating hearing loss and cognitive impairment, measured with standardized questionnaires, has shown a strong relationship between them. Similar findings have emerged from animal studies, showing that the induction of hearing loss via prolonged loud sound exposure or ear canal blocking, can impair cognitive abilities. Interestingly, patients with age-related hearing impairment exhibit increased phosphorylated tau in the cerebrospinal fluid, but no such relationship has been identified for amyloid-β. In addition, hearing loss predisposes to social isolation precipitating the development of dementia through a supposed reduction in cognitive load and processing requirements. Given this link between hearing loss and dementia, the question arises whether the restoration of hearing might mitigate against the onset or progress of AD. Indeed, there is a growing body of research that suggests that those who wear hearing aids for age-related hearing problems maintain better cognitive function over time than those who do not. These are compelling findings, as they suggest the use of hearing aids has the potential to be a cost-effective treatment for those with hearing loss both prior (for those at high risk for AD) and after the development of symptoms. This review aims to summarize the current theories that relate hearing loss and cognitive decline, present the key findings of animal studies, observational studies and summarize the gaps and limitations that need to be addressed in this topic. Through this, we suggest directions for future studies to tackle the lack of adequately randomized control trials in the field. This omission is responsible for the inability to provide a conclusive verdict on whether to use hearing interventions to target hearing-loss related cognitive decline.

Predictors of loneliness onset and maintenance in European older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives

Loneliness is a major public health concern. Duration of loneliness is associated with severity of health outcomes, and further research is needed to direct interventions and social policy. This study aimed to identify predictors of the onset vs. the maintenance of loneliness in older adults before and during the pandemic using longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Age, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Methods

Groupings of persistent, situational, and no loneliness were based on self-reports from an ordinary pre-pandemic SHARE wave and a peri-pandemic telephone interview. Predictors were identified and compared in three hierarchical binary regression analyses, with independent variables added in blocks of geographic region, demographics, pre-pandemic social network, pre-pandemic health, pandemic-related individual, and country level variables.

Results

Self-reported loneliness levels for the persistent, situational, and no loneliness groups were stable and distinct through 7 years preceding the pre-pandemic baseline measure. Shared predictors were chronic diseases, female sex, depression, and no cohabitant partner. Persistent loneliness was uniquely predicted by low network satisfaction (OR: 2.04), functional limitations (OR: 1.40), and a longer country-level isolation period for older adults (OR: 1.24).

Conclusion

Interventions may target persons with depression, functional limitations, chronic health issues, and no cohabitant partner. The added burden of the length of isolation on those who are already lonely should be taken into account when employing social policies that target older adults. Further research should distinguish between situational and persistent loneliness, and seek to identify predictors of chronic loneliness onset.

Enduring Effects of Early Life Traumas on Adult Suicidal Ideation

Exposure to traumas early in life has been found to have a range of negative health effects later in adulthood, including a higher risk for suicidal behavior. Using data from the Waves I (1994/95) and IV (2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 14,385; 49.35% female; Mage in Wave IV = 29), this study examines the effects of exposure to three different types of early life traumas-emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse before the age of 18-on adult suicidal ideation. Guided by the stress process model incorporated with a life-course perspective, potential mediating roles of psychological distress, subjective powerlessness, and perceived social rejection were also investigated. A series of regression and Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) mediation analyses were performed using Stata 14 to assess the total, direct, and indirect effects. All three early life trauma measures were found to be significantly and independently associated with a higher risk of suicidal ideation in adulthood. A substantive portion (between 30 and 50%) of the effects was mediated by psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety), subjective powerlessness, and perceived social rejection. The general policy implications of this study include evaluating suicidal individuals for prior childhood abuse experiences and assessing abuse survivors for suicidality.

Psychological interventions for loneliness and social isolation among older adults during medical pandemics: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

There is little research conducted to systematically synthesize the evidence on psychological interventions for social isolation and loneliness among older adults during medical pandemics. This systematic review aims to address this information gap and provides guidance for planning and implementing interventions to prevent and reduce loneliness and social isolation for older adults, especially during medical pandemics.

METHODS

Four electronic databases (EMBASE, PsychoInfo, Medline and Web of Science) and grey literature from 1 January 2000 to 13 September 2022 were searched for eligible studies on loneliness and social isolation. Data extraction and methodological quality assessment on key study characteristics were conducted independently by two researchers. Both qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis were used.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 3,116 titles. Of the 215 full texts reviewed, 12 intervention articles targeting loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic met the inclusion criteria. No studies were found concerning intervention with respect to social isolation. Overall, interventions targeting social skills and the elimination of negativities effectively alleviated the feelings of loneliness in the older population. However, they had only short-term effects.

CONCLUSION

This review systematically summarised the key characteristics and the effectiveness of existing interventions addressing loneliness in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future interventions should focus on social skills and eliminating negativities and be tailored to the needs and characteristics of older people. Repeated larger-scale randomized controlled trials and long-term effectiveness evaluations on this topic are warranted.

The diurnal course of salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase on workdays and leisure days in teachers and the role of social isolation and neuroticism

Teachers are among the occupational groups with the highest sick leave rates due to workplace stress and burnout symptoms. A substantial body of research has suggested social isolation and neuroticism to be related to physiological stress activity. However, the relationship between such characteristics and stress experiences has rarely been studied in conjunction with physiological stress indicators in the teachers' natural settings. Thus, the present study examines salivary cortisol and α-amylase as physiological stress indicators on teachers' work and leisure days and their relationship with social isolation. Furthermore, we test whether neuroticism moderates the relationship between social isolation and salivary biomarkers. Forty-two teachers completed questionnaires assessing social isolation (Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress) and neuroticism (Big-Five Inventory). Participants collected eight saliva samples on three days, two workdays, and one leisure day to measure the concentration of cortisol and α-amylase as biomarkers of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS), respectively. Results showed a significantly higher Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) and diurnal cortisol slope (DCS) on workdays than on the leisure day but no significant differences regarding measures of α-amylase. We found a significant positive relationship between social isolation and the CAR on the leisure day but no association with the α-amylase measures. Furthermore, after controlling for confounders, social isolation was unrelated to neuroticism, and the latter did not moderate between social isolation and the CAR. Our findings suggest an association between social isolation and the HPA axis, i.e., the CAR, but do not support an association with the ANS, which would be indicated by the α-amylase assessments. Finally, our findings could not support an association of neuroticism with the HPA axis and ANS.

Emotional and social loneliness and their unique links with social isolation, depression and anxiety

BACKGROUND

Loneliness and social isolation are known to be associated with depression, general anxiety, and social anxiety. However, knowledge on the overlapping and unique features of these relationships, while differentiating between social loneliness (perceived absence of an acceptable social network) and emotional loneliness (perceived absence of close connections), is lacking.

METHODS

We constructed a network analysis to examine the relationships between self-reported social loneliness, emotional loneliness, social isolation, depression, general anxiety and social anxiety in a large sample of university students (N = 7314, 67.4 % female, range 16.3-75.8 years, M_age = 23.9, SD_age = 5.7). Hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine whether depression, general anxiety and social anxiety moderated the relationship between social isolation and loneliness types. As comorbidity between anxiety and depression is high, the role of anxiety as a moderator in the relationship between depression and loneliness types was also examined.

RESULTS

The network analysis showed that social loneliness was most strongly explained by social isolation, whereas emotional loneliness was most strongly explained by social anxiety and depression. General anxiety was solely related to loneliness through depression. The regression analyses showed that general and social anxiety and depression did not moderate the relationship between social isolation and loneliness types.

LIMITATIONS

Differences found between loneliness types may be influenced by a methodological artifact of the DJGLS.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the importance of social anxiety over general anxiety in relation to loneliness. Also, it showed unique relationships for social- and emotional loneliness with psycho-social variables, which has important implications for research- and clinical settings.

Sensitivity and specificity in affective and social learning in adolescence

Adolescence is a period of heightened affective and social sensitivity. In this review we address how this increased sensitivity influences associative learning. Based on recent evidence from human and rodent studies, as well as advances in computational biology, we suggest that, compared to other age groups, adolescents show features of heightened Pavlovian learning but tend to perform worse than adults at instrumental learning. Because Pavlovian learning does not involve decision-making, whereas instrumental learning does, we propose that these developmental differences might be due to heightened sensitivity to rewards and threats in adolescence, coupled with a lower specificity of responding. We discuss the implications of these findings for adolescent mental health and education.

An exploratory psychometric network analysis of loneliness scales in a sample of older adults

To examine the relationships within and between commonly used measures of loneliness to determine the suitability of the measures in older adults. Further, to determine whether certain items in these measures are more psychometrically robust in terms of capturing different types of loneliness across this population. Data were obtained from 350 older adults via completion of an online survey. Four measures of loneliness were completed. These were the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale 4 (Version 3), the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (Short Version) and a direct measure of loneliness. Analysis via a regularized partial correlation network and via clique percolation revealed that only the SELSA-S encompassed loneliness relating to deficits in social, family and romantic relationships. The remaining measures tapped mostly into social loneliness alone. The direct measure of loneliness had the strongest connection to the UCLA item-4 and the de Jong Gierveld item-1 exhibited the strongest bridge centrality, being a member of the most clusters. The results indicate that should researchers be interested in assessing loneliness resulting from specific relationships, then the SELSA-S would be the most suitable measure. Whereas the other measures are suitable for assessing loneliness more generally. The results further suggest that the de Jong Gierveld item-1 may be a more suitable direct measure of loneliness than that currently employed as it taps into a greater number of relationships.

Decision-Making and Risk-Propensity Changes during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

The imposition of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic placed individuals under conditions of environmental stress, threatening individual and collective wellbeing. This study aimed to investigate the temporal effects of isolation and confinement during and after the Italian lockdown on decision-making, risk propensity, and cognitive control processes. The present study covered almost the entire Italian lockdown period (each week from the end of March to mid-May 2020), plus a follow-up measure (September 2020). At each time-point, respondents completed online behavioral tasks, which involved measuring risk-propensity (Balloon Analogue Risk Task), decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task), and cognitive flexibility (Category Switch Task). They also filled in questionnaires regarding subjective stress and anxiety. The main findings showed that the decision-making abilities of the respondents were affected as the confinement progressed. Furthermore, individuals who were more subjectively impacted by the lockdown/isolation experience exhibited impaired decision-making, especially during the lockdown. The results of the study highlight that prolonged confinement may affect human decision making, and help understand individuals' misbehaviors during emergencies and develop effective countermeasures aimed at reducing the burden of the healthcare system.

Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach

Teacher stress significantly challenges teachers' health, teaching quality, and students' motivation and achievement. Thus, it is crucial to identify factors that effectively prevent it. Using a LASSO regression approach, we examined which factors predict teachers' psychological strain and allostatic load over two years. The study included 42 teachers (28 female, Mage = 39.66, SD = 11.99) and three measurement time points: At baseline, we assessed teachers' (a) self-reports (i.e., on personality, coping styles, and psychological strain), (b) behavioral data (i.e., videotaped lessons), and (c) allostatic load (i.e., body mass index, blood pressure, and hair cortisol concentration). At 1- and 2-year follow-ups, psychological strain and allostatic load biomarkers were reassessed. Neuroticism and perceived student disruptions at baseline emerged as the most significant risk factors regarding teachers' psychological strain two years later, while a positive core self-evaluation was the most important protective factor. Perceived support from other teachers and the school administration as well as adaptive coping styles were protective factors against allostatic load after two years. The findings suggest that teachers' psychological strain and allostatic load do not primarily originate from objective classroom conditions but are attributable to teachers' idiosyncratic perception of this environment through the lens of personality and coping strategies.

Brain connectivity during social exclusion differs depending on the closeness within a triad among older adults living in a village

Social exclusion occurs in various types of social relationships, from anonymous others to close friends. However, the role that social relationships play in social exclusion is less well known because most paradigms investigating social exclusion have been done in laboratory contexts, without considering the features of individuals' real-world social relationships. Here, we addressed this gap by examining how pre-existing social relationships with rejecters may influence the brain response of individuals experiencing social exclusion. Eighty-eight older adults living in a rural village visited the laboratory with two other participants living in the same village and played Cyberball in an Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner. Utilizing whole-brain connectome-based predictive modeling, we analyzed functional connectivity (FC) data obtained during the social exclusion task. First, we found that the level of self-reported distress during social exclusion was significantly related to sparsity, i.e. lack of closeness, within a triad. Furthermore, the sparsity was significantly predicted by the FC model, demonstrating that a sparse triadic relationship was associated with stronger connectivity patterns in brain regions previously implicated in social pain and mentalizing during Cyberball. These findings extend our understanding of how real-world social intimacy and relationships with excluders affect neural and emotional responses to social exclusion.

Social deprivation induces astrocytic TRPA1-GABA suppression of hippocampal circuits

Social experience is essential for the development and maintenance of higher-order brain function. Social deprivation results in a host of cognitive deficits, and cellular studies have largely focused on associated neuronal dysregulation; how astrocyte function is impacted by social deprivation is unknown. Here, we show that hippocampal astrocytes from juvenile mice subjected to social isolation exhibit increased Ca2+ activity and global changes in gene expression. We found that the Ca2+ channel TRPA1 is upregulated in astrocytes after social deprivation and astrocyte-specific deletion of TRPA1 reverses the physiological and cognitive deficits associated with social deprivation. Mechanistically, TRPA1 inhibition of hippocampal circuits is mediated by a parallel increase of astrocytic production and release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA after social deprivation. Collectively, our studies reveal how astrocyte function is tuned to social experience and identifies a social-context-specific mechanism by which astrocytic TRPA1 and GABA coordinately suppress hippocampal circuit function.

Loneliness in Sexual Minority Individuals in the Southeastern United States: The Role of Minority Stress and Resilience

Health disparities in the sexual minority population may be exacerbated by the loneliness experienced due to minority stress. Using a minority stress framework, this study examined minority stress, protective variables, and mental health as correlates of loneliness in sexual minority individuals in a small metropolitan area in the southeastern United States. Participants (n = 273) were a subsample of sexual minority individuals from a broader sample of LGBTQ adults in the Central Savannah River area who completed a health needs assessment. Bivariate correlations were calculated to assess for degree of significant relationships between loneliness and barriers to health care, minority stress, and mental health. Hierarchical linear regression was conducted to examine the relative importance of the study variables' associations with loneliness. A multiple regression model found household income, assault victimization, depressive symptoms, and sense of community to be significant correlates of loneliness. Interventions to decrease loneliness in this population will need to consider these interconnected, multi-level influences.

Loneliness and Off-Topic Verbosity Among Young Adults and Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

Off-topic verbosity (OTV) refers to prolonged speech that derails from the initial conversational topic by including more loosely associated speech and becoming increasingly more unfocused and distant from the initial topic. Previous research has suggested that, among older adults, loneliness may be associated with greater OTV. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of the relationship between loneliness and OTV among young adults (n = 62) and older adults (n = 80).

METHODS

Participants completed a measure of loneliness and provided speech samples, which were transcribed and rated for OTV.

RESULTS

Results indicated some relationship between loneliness and tangentiality of speech, particularly among older adults.

DISCUSSION

Overall, loneliness may be associated with greater OTV in older adults, which could further explain the connection between increased loneliness and worse health outcomes in older adulthood.

Home alone: A population neuroscience investigation of brain morphology substrates

As a social species, ready exchange with peers is a pivotal asset - our "social capital". Yet, single-person households have come to pervade metropolitan cities worldwide, with unknown consequences in the long run. Here, we systematically explore the morphological manifestations associated with singular living in ∼40,000 UK Biobank participants. The uncovered population-level signature spotlights the highly associative default mode network, in addition to findings such as in the amygdala central, cortical and corticoamygdaloid nuclei groups, as well as the hippocampal fimbria and dentate gyrus. Both positive effects, equating to greater gray matter volume associated with living alone, and negative effects, which can be interpreted as greater gray matter associations with not living alone, were found across the cortex and subcortical structures Sex-stratified analyses revealed male-specific neural substrates, including somatomotor, saliency and visual systems, while female-specific neural substrates centered on the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. In line with our demographic profiling results, the discovered neural pattern of living alone is potentially linked to alcohol and tobacco consumption, anxiety, sleep quality as well as daily TV watching. The persistent trend for solitary living will require new answers from public-health decision makers. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Living alone has profound consequences for mental and physical health. Despite this, there has been a rapid increase in single-person households worldwide, with the long-term consequences yet unknown. In the largest study of its kind, we investigate how the objective lack of everyday social interaction, through living alone, manifests in the brain. Our population neuroscience approach uncovered a gray matter signature that converged on the 'default network', alongside targeted subcortical, sex and demographic profiling analyses. The human urge for social relationships is highlighted by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Better understanding of how social isolation relates to the brain will influence health and social policy decision-making of pandemic planning, as well as social interventions in light of global shifts in houseful structures.

Loneliness - Cancer of the Mind

World is greying as the proportion of the ageing population increases and the demography is changing both in the developing and developed world. Contact between people is the central part of everyone's life and the glue that holds communities and society together. Lack of social relations is considered to cause loneliness and isolation for the individual and, simultaneously, on a societal level, leads to marginalisation, social disintegration and diminishing trust between people. This has come to sharp focus during the corona pandemic. Meaningful social connections are central to the physical and mental health of human beings. Off late, the deleterious health implication of social isolation and loneliness has increasingly been noticed, with a higher risk of premature death and accelerated risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, depression, and dementia. Worldwide, there is an increasing awareness regarding the alarming consequences of loneliness, especially among older adults. In response, 2018 saw the launch of a UK loneliness strategy and the first minister for loneliness in the world appointed.

Longitudinal Associations Between Loneliness and Self-Rated Health Among Black and White Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the longitudinal association between loneliness and self-rated health (SRH), and whether there were race differences between non-Hispanic Black and White adults in these associations.

METHOD

A total of 1,407 participants were drawn Social Relations Study, a regional study of social relations across the life span with 3 waves of data collection in 1992, 2005, and 2015 (Wave 1, W1: Mage = 50.28, 28% Black, 59% women). Cross-lagged structural equation models examined the association between loneliness and SRH over 3 waves. We adjusted for baseline age, gender, social network size, and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

There were no race differences in loneliness at any wave. Loneliness W1 was associated with Loneliness W2; Loneliness W2 was associated with Loneliness W3. We had similar findings for associations among SRH. However, only one of the cross-lagged paths was significant. Worse SRH W2 was associated with more Loneliness W3. The only path that varied across race was in the association between SRH W2 and Loneliness W3, and this path was significant only in Whites.

DISCUSSION

Findings indicate that worse SRH at later midlife may increase risk for loneliness in later life, particularly for Whites. As a valid indicator of health, SRH can be used in the body of research on health correlates of loneliness as adults age. Use of the current sample of Black and White adults provides nuanced understanding in the ways in which racially diverse adults experience loneliness and should be useful in refining and developing culturally competent interventions for older adults.

Psychosocial profiles within community-dwelling older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A prevalence and latent profile analysis study

OBJECTIVES

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is an at-risk stage for dementia and accurate prevalence studies are lacking in Singapore. From the literature, it is evident that psychosocial factors increase the risk of conversion to dementia. In this study, we sought to establish the prevalence of MCI in Singapore and study the associated psychosocial factors using latent profile analysis.

METHOD

902 community-dwelling older adults, aged between 60 and 99 years old (Mage = 70.48 years), were recruited as part of the Community Health and Intergenerational Study (CHI). They completed neurocognitive assessments and questionnaires on depression and anxiety symptoms, quality of life, social support, satisfaction with life, and social connectivity. Petersen's criteria was used to diagnose MCI. Within the MCI sample, 166 subjects' psychosocial scores were entered into a latent profile analysis to identify profiles of psychosocial functioning.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MCI in our sample was 21.5%. They had significantly lower years of education and perceived social support and higher depressive symptoms than the normal ageing group. Three distinct profiles emerged within the MCI group corresponding to a positive (45.2%), neutral (38.5%), and negative (16.3%) pattern of psychosocial scores. These profiles did not differ significantly in terms of demographic or cognitive variables.

DISCUSSION

The three psychosocial profiles might reflect the differing implications of MCI on a person's well-being and the negative psychosocial profile might likely be most at risk of conversion to dementia. Future longitudinal studies are required to confirm these implications.

The relationship between social isolation, social support, and loneliness with cardiovascular disease and shared risk factors: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the greatest contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Poor social health plays a critical role in CVD incidence. Additionally, the relationship between social health and CVD may be mediated through CVD risk factors. However, the underlying mechanisms between social health and CVD are poorly understood. Certain social health constructs (social isolation, low social support and loneliness) have complicated the characterisation of a causal relationship between social health and CVD.

AIM

To provide an overview of the relationship between social health and CVD (and its shared risk factors).

METHOD

In this narrative review, we examined published literature on the relationship between three social health constructs (social isolation, social support, and loneliness) and CVD. Evidence was synthesised in a narrative format, focusing on the potential ways in which social health affects CVD, including shared risk factors.

RESULTS

The current literature highlights an established relationship between social health and CVD with a likelihood for bi-directionality. However, there is speculation and varied evidence regarding how these relationships may be mediated through CVD risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Social health can be considered an established risk factor for CVD. However, the potential bi-directional pathways of social health with CVD risk factors are less established. Further research is needed to understand whether targeting certain constructs of social health may directly improve the management of CVD risk factors. Given the health and economic burdens of poor social health and CVD, improvements to addressing or preventing these interrelated health conditions would have societal benefits.

Older Adults’ Experiences in a Web-Based Intervention for Loneliness

Background: Older adults may be vulnerable to loneliness due to natural and age-related transitions. Lonely older adults are at an increased risk of adverse health outcomes due to their loneliness, including cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of vulnerable older adults in a web-based loneliness intervention. Methods: Older adult participants in a web-based loneliness intervention (n = 24) participated in semi-structured interviews eliciting feedback about their experience in the program and perceived outcomes. Participants’ responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants reported fewer negative perceptions of their social skills and future social interactions, gaining new social skills, improved relationships, and increased confidence to initiate and maintain social contact. Conclusions: Findings suggest the efficacy of combining a web-based loneliness intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy, and provide implications for future web-based interventions for older adult populations.