1. Introduction Results Method Conclusions
Early Adult Perceived and Actual Social Isolation: Adolescent Predictors and Adult Health Sequelae Joseph S. Tan, Rachel K. Narr, Emily L. Loeb, Jessica Kansky, & Joseph P. Allen University of Virginia. We would like to thank the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development for funding awarded to Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator, (R01 HD & R01-MH58066) for funding to conduct this study as well as for the write-up of this study.
Measures
Popularity was assessed through a sociometric nomination system (Coie & Dodge, 1983).
Social competence was assessed using a close peer report on the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire Revised (Buhrmester, 1994; Cronbach’s α = ).
Anxiety was assessed using the self-report Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck et al., 1988; Cronbach’s α = ).
Rejection sensitivity was assessed using the self-report Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman, 1996; Cronbach’s α = ).
Perceived social isolation was with the self-report UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, 1996; Cronbach’s α = ).
Actual social isolation was assessed using a close peer report of the target individual’s social acceptance on the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (Harter, 1988; Cronbach’s α = ).
Participants reported on their general health using a health outcomes questionnaire (Ware & Sherbourne, 1992; Cronbach’s α = ).
Figure 2. Adult actual social isolation and perceived social isolation predicting growth in health.
Introduction
Research has shown that loneliness (or perceived social isolation) and actual social isolation in adulthood both are significant risk factors for consequential outcomes such as early mortality (Holt-Lundstad, 2015).
A lack of association between the two phenomena has been documented (Coyle & Dugan, 2012; Perissinotto & Covinsky, 2014).
The degree to which adolescent antecedents of these phenomena overlap is not well-understood.
Evidence from different types of interventions targeting perceived social isolation suggests at the potential for different predictors for perceived as opposed to actual isolation:
Reducing maladaptive social cognitions has a large effect on perceived social isolation while teaching social skills has a very small effect (Cacioppo et al., 2015).
In this study, we investigate both cognitive and social predictors of perceived and actual social isolation to understand similarities and differences in what predicts each phenomenon, as well as the health sequelae of each phenomenon.
Results
Regression analyses using Full Information Maximum Likelihood suggested that adolescent anxiety and rejection sensitivity predicted adult perceived social isolation. Adolescent social competence and anxiety predicted actual social isolation (see Figure 1).
The association between adult perceived social isolation and actual social isolation was modest (r = .10, p = .187).
Analyses with latent growth curves suggested that both perceived social isolation and actual social isolation predict later perceptions of health (see Figure 2).
Figure 1. Adolescent predictors of adult actual social isolation and perceived social isolation.
Method
Conclusions
Participants
Participants were 184 individuals assessed at age 16, annually from ages 21 to 22, and annually from ages 25 to 28.
The sample was 63% European-American, 27% African-American, and 14% mixed race or other race/ethnicities.
Baseline median family income was in the $40,000 to $59,000 range
Procedure
Between ages 15 to 17, popularity, social competence, anxiety, and rejection sensitivity were assessed, composites were created centering on age 16.
At ages 21 and 22, perceived social isolation and social acceptance were assessed; composites were created.
Between ages 25 and 28, participants reported on their general health annually.
The results suggest that adult perceived social isolation and actual social isolation, which should be understood as distinct phenomena, may be predicted by different aspects of adolescent social experiences.
Perceived social isolation appears to be more strongly tied to one’s internal self-perceptions.
In contrast, actual social isolation seems to be more strongly tied to lacking social skills.
Both appear to be consequential indicators of later health.
Future Directions
Are similar patterns found with objective measures of health?
What are the developmental processes that mediate the relationships between each outcome and their predictors?
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