Association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment: Analyses of a population-based and a clinical sample
Abstract Background Perceived loneliness and objective social network size are related but distinct factors, which negatively affect mental health and are prevalent in patients who have experienced childhood maltreatment (CM), for example, patients with persistent depressive disorder (PDD) and bor...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-01-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023136/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156329759244288 |
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| author | Matthias A. Reinhard Stephanie V. Rek Tabea Nenov-Matt Barbara B. Barton Julia Dewald-Kaufmann Katharina Merz Richard Musil Andrea Jobst Eva-Lotta Brakemeier Katja Bertsch Frank Padberg |
| author_facet | Matthias A. Reinhard Stephanie V. Rek Tabea Nenov-Matt Barbara B. Barton Julia Dewald-Kaufmann Katharina Merz Richard Musil Andrea Jobst Eva-Lotta Brakemeier Katja Bertsch Frank Padberg |
| author_sort | Matthias A. Reinhard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Background
Perceived loneliness and objective social network size are related but distinct factors, which negatively affect mental health and are prevalent in patients who have experienced childhood maltreatment (CM), for example, patients with persistent depressive disorder (PDD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). This cross-diagnostic study investigated whether loneliness, social network size, or both are associated with self-reported CM.
Methods
Loneliness and social network size were assessed in a population-based sample at two time points (Study 1, N = 509), and a clinical group of patients with PDD or BPD (Study 2, N = 190) using the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Social Network Index. Further measures were the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and standard depression rating scales. Linear regression analyses were applied to compare associations of loneliness or social network size with CM. Multiple mediation analyses were used to test the relative importance of loneliness and social network size in the relationship between CM and depressive symptoms.
Results
In both studies, loneliness showed a stronger association than social network size with CM. This was particularly marked for emotional neglect and emotional abuse. Loneliness but not social network size mediated the relationship between CM and depressive symptoms.
Conclusions
Loneliness is particularly associated with self-reported CM, and in this respect distinct from the social network size. Our results underline the importance of differentiating both psychosocial constructs and suggest focusing on perceived loneliness and its etiological underpinnings by mechanism-based psychosocial interventions.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:49:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b737910784b34d078dcd79713a218ade |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:49:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-b737910784b34d078dcd79713a218ade2023-03-09T12:33:56ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-01-016510.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2313Association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment: Analyses of a population-based and a clinical sampleMatthias A. Reinhard0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8374-5467Stephanie V. Rek1Tabea Nenov-Matt2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1371-3897Barbara B. Barton3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3614-9918Julia Dewald-Kaufmann4Katharina Merz5Richard Musil6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0792-8413Andrea Jobst7Eva-Lotta Brakemeier8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9589-3697Katja Bertsch9https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9177-9010Frank Padberg10Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany Abstract Background Perceived loneliness and objective social network size are related but distinct factors, which negatively affect mental health and are prevalent in patients who have experienced childhood maltreatment (CM), for example, patients with persistent depressive disorder (PDD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). This cross-diagnostic study investigated whether loneliness, social network size, or both are associated with self-reported CM. Methods Loneliness and social network size were assessed in a population-based sample at two time points (Study 1, N = 509), and a clinical group of patients with PDD or BPD (Study 2, N = 190) using the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Social Network Index. Further measures were the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and standard depression rating scales. Linear regression analyses were applied to compare associations of loneliness or social network size with CM. Multiple mediation analyses were used to test the relative importance of loneliness and social network size in the relationship between CM and depressive symptoms. Results In both studies, loneliness showed a stronger association than social network size with CM. This was particularly marked for emotional neglect and emotional abuse. Loneliness but not social network size mediated the relationship between CM and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Loneliness is particularly associated with self-reported CM, and in this respect distinct from the social network size. Our results underline the importance of differentiating both psychosocial constructs and suggest focusing on perceived loneliness and its etiological underpinnings by mechanism-based psychosocial interventions. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023136/type/journal_articleAdverse childhood experiencesborderline personality disorderchronic depressionperceived social isolationpsychopathology |
| spellingShingle | Matthias A. Reinhard Stephanie V. Rek Tabea Nenov-Matt Barbara B. Barton Julia Dewald-Kaufmann Katharina Merz Richard Musil Andrea Jobst Eva-Lotta Brakemeier Katja Bertsch Frank Padberg Association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment: Analyses of a population-based and a clinical sample European Psychiatry Adverse childhood experiences borderline personality disorder chronic depression perceived social isolation psychopathology |
| title | Association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment: Analyses of a population-based and a clinical sample |
| title_full | Association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment: Analyses of a population-based and a clinical sample |
| title_fullStr | Association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment: Analyses of a population-based and a clinical sample |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment: Analyses of a population-based and a clinical sample |
| title_short | Association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment: Analyses of a population-based and a clinical sample |
| title_sort | association of loneliness and social network size in adulthood with childhood maltreatment analyses of a population based and a clinical sample |
| topic | Adverse childhood experiences borderline personality disorder chronic depression perceived social isolation psychopathology |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023136/type/journal_article |
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