The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation
Abstract 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 socia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38244-0 |
| _version_ | 1797769512262565888 |
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| author | Daniel Franco-O’Byrne Juan Pablo Morales Sepúlveda Raúl Gonzalez-Gomez Agustín Ibáñez Daniela Huepe-Artigas Cristián Matus Ruth Manen Jaime Ayala Sol Fittipaldi David Huepe |
| author_facet | Daniel Franco-O’Byrne Juan Pablo Morales Sepúlveda Raúl Gonzalez-Gomez Agustín Ibáñez Daniela Huepe-Artigas Cristián Matus Ruth Manen Jaime Ayala Sol Fittipaldi David Huepe |
| author_sort | Daniel Franco-O’Byrne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:10:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b3f49cddc1e4ea7aef3a9201578ce88 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:10:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b3f49cddc1e4ea7aef3a9201578ce882023-07-30T11:15:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-07-0113111110.1038/s41598-023-38244-0The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptationDaniel Franco-O’Byrne0Juan Pablo Morales Sepúlveda1Raúl Gonzalez-Gomez2Agustín Ibáñez3Daniela Huepe-Artigas4Cristián Matus5Ruth Manen6Jaime Ayala7Sol Fittipaldi8David Huepe9Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo IbáñezUniversity of Sydney Business SchoolCenter for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo IbáñezLatin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo IbáñezCenter for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo IbáñezHospital de Carabineros de ChileHospital de Carabineros de ChileHospital de Carabineros de ChileLatin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo IbáñezCenter for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo IbáñezAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38244-0 |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Franco-O’Byrne Juan Pablo Morales Sepúlveda Raúl Gonzalez-Gomez Agustín Ibáñez Daniela Huepe-Artigas Cristián Matus Ruth Manen Jaime Ayala Sol Fittipaldi David Huepe The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation Scientific Reports |
| title | The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation |
| title_full | The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation |
| title_fullStr | The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation |
| title_short | The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation |
| title_sort | neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38244-0 |
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