Interventions to improve social connections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Zagic, Dino; Wuthrich, Viviana M.; Rapee, Ronald M.; Wolters, Nine

doi:10.1007/s00127-021-02191-w

Cited by 41 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 106 publications

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“…A strong and supportive social network can have a protective effect on mental health, while a lack of social connections can increase the risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety [11]. Interventions that focus on building and strengthening social connections, such as community-based programs or online support groups, can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have a limited social network [12]. Additionally, interventions that target specific groups, such as older adults or individuals with disabilities, who may be at a higher risk of social isolation, can also be effective in promoting mental health [13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Association of a Geographically Wide Social Media Network on Depression: County-Level Ecological Analysis

Beauchamp¹,

Lehmann²,

Medford³

et al. 2023

J Med Internet Res

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Background Social connectedness decreases human mortality, improves cancer survival, cardiovascular health, and body mass, results in better-controlled glucose levels, and strengthens mental health. However, few public health studies have leveraged large social media data sets to classify user network structure and geographic reach rather than the sole use of social media platforms. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the association between population-level digital social connectedness and reach and depression in the population across geographies of the United States. Methods Our study used an ecological assessment of aggregated, cross-sectional population measures of social connectedness, and self-reported depression across all counties in the United States. This study included all 3142 counties in the contiguous United States. We used measures obtained between 2018 and 2020 for adult residents in the study area. The study’s main exposure of interest is the Social Connectedness Index (SCI), a pair-wise composite index describing the “strength of connectedness between 2 geographic areas as represented by Facebook friendship ties.” This measure describes the density and geographical reach of average county residents’ social network using Facebook friendships and can differentiate between local and long-distance Facebook connections. The study’s outcome of interest is self-reported depressive disorder as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results On average, 21% (21/100) of all adult residents in the United States reported a depressive disorder. Depression frequency was the lowest for counties in the Northeast (18.6%) and was highest for southern counties (22.4%). Social networks in northeastern counties involved moderately local connections (SCI 5-10 the 20th percentile for n=70, 36% of counties), whereas social networks in Midwest, southern, and western counties contained mostly local connections (SCI 1-2 the 20th percentile for n=598, 56.7%, n=401, 28.2%, and n=159, 38.4%, respectively). As the quantity and distance that social connections span (ie, SCI) increased, the prevalence of depressive disorders decreased by 0.3% (SE 0.1%) per rank. Conclusions Social connectedness and depression showed, after adjusting for confounding factors such as income, education, cohabitation, natural resources, employment categories, accessibility, and urbanicity, that a greater social connectedness score is associated with a decreased prevalence of depression.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Association of a Geographically Wide Social Media Network on Depression: County-Level Ecological Analysis

Beauchamp¹,

Lehmann²,

Medford³

et al. 2023

J Med Internet Res

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“…Interventions should be developed in consideration of both continua. In this regard, a recent meta-analysis showed that providing adults with opportunities to interact with others led to significant increases in objective social contact, while psychological strategies aimed at distress management led to significant improvements in the quality of social connections [33]. Due to the critical importance of subjective and objective outcomes, we believe that health policies should not only consider measures that reflect living alone status (an objective state), but should also consider loneliness (subjectively low social connectedness).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Japanese national well-being survey shows that living alone results in lower satisfaction and affects other relationships, while social networking service usage is related to life satisfaction: A cross-sectional study

Miyaki

Kawamura

Takano

et al. 2022

Preprint

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This study examined how social isolation and subjective loneliness impacted subjective well-being across Japan, with the aim of offering policy recommendations. We analyzed data (N = 5,234, age:15-89) obtained through a Japanese population-based national survey conducted in March 2021. First, we found that mean life satisfaction was statistically lowest among the subgroup of respondents who lived alone (approximately 20% of the total), with more pronounced impacts in males. We also found that the frequency of social networking site (SNS) usage was significantly associated with overall life satisfaction, exhibiting a J-curve (three to four times per week was better than everyday usage). The frequency of interaction with others, number of SNS friends, employment/wage satisfaction, family budget/asset satisfaction, subjective health satisfaction, and subjective connectedness were also related to well-being in a dose-dependent manner (Trend P<0.001). Second, our multiple logistic regression model showed that the above relationships were independently and statistically significant (p<0.05). Moreover, a stratified analysis showed that living alone significantly affected these relationships, which suggests that this condition should specifically be addressed in the context of efforts aimed at enhancing subjective well-being. In addition, respondents who lived alone had low subjective connectedness, which also independently influenced well-being, as shown by our multivariate logistic model. In sum, these findings indicate that national well-being enhancement policies should particularly consider social isolation and loneliness, including issues stemming from low social connectedness.

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“…Participants who sought support from faith communities appeared to have enhanced social networks and the absence of this was observed in the atheist older victim suffering loneliness. This does not mean nonreligious older victims should be directed toward religious communities as this would be incompatible with their beliefs, but it does highlight the potential benefits of secular community support groups or therapy targeted toward enhancing social connection (Zagic et al, 2021).…”

Section: Clinical Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“If we don't forgive, it's like holding on to them”: A qualitative study of religious and spiritual coping on psychological recovery in older crime victims.

Satchell¹,

Dalrymple²,

Leavey

et al. 2024

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Objective: There is growing need to strengthen support for older crime victims. We aimed to explore spiritual and/or religious (S/R) beliefs in a sample of older victims and understand how this shapes psychological responding and coping with crime. Method: Qualitative study with supplementary descriptive statistics nested within a clinical trial. We explored psychological responding and coping in-depth through semistructured interviews with 27 older victims of police-reported crime, purposefully sampled to achieve maximum variation. We inductively analyzed data using a reflexive thematic analysis. We assessed the breadth of S/R beliefs in a large sample (N = 402) of initially distressed older victims using an abbreviated version of The Royal Free Interview for Spiritual Beliefs. We assessed continued psychological distress using the two-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Patient Health Questionnaire 3 months postcrime. Results: Over twothirds (67%) identified as S/R, but psychological distress scores were similar, irrespective of religiosity. Our qualitative analysis suggests that crime may impact religious identity or practice in some older victims (hate crime) but influences attitudes or coping in others. Positive coping included acceptance, forgiveness, and/or turning to prayer or faith communities. Negative coping included fixation on retribution, superstition, perceived abandonment by God, or an inability to accommodate the crime within their beliefs, amplifying psychological distress. Conclusions: Understanding the psychological impact on older crime victims is enhanced by clarifying the role of S/R. Further research, especially on non-Christian religious victims, is needed. Cultural awareness training for trauma counselors and trauma awareness training for faith leaders is recommended. Clinical Impact StatementCrime can be psychologically distressing in older people. Of 402 older victims, two-thirds were religious or spiritual. Psychological distress scores were similar regardless of faith. In-depth interviews with 27 older victims found that acceptance, forgiveness, praying and support from faith communities helped distress. Justice-seeking, superstition, feeling abandoned by God or being unable to explain the crime within religious beliefs appeared to make distress worse. It is important therapists understand coping styles in the context of a person's religious or spiritual beliefs when working with distressed older victims.

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Interventions to improve social connections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Cited by 41 publications

References 106 publications

The Association of a Geographically Wide Social Media Network on Depression: County-Level Ecological Analysis

The Association of a Geographically Wide Social Media Network on Depression: County-Level Ecological Analysis

Japanese national well-being survey shows that living alone results in lower satisfaction and affects other relationships, while social networking service usage is related to life satisfaction: A cross-sectional study

“If we don't forgive, it's like holding on to them”: A qualitative study of religious and spiritual coping on psychological recovery in older crime victims.

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