Owner of a lonely mind? Social cognitive capacity is associated with objective, but not perceived social isolation in healthy individuals

Okruszek, Łukasz; Piejka, Aleksandra; Krawczyk, M.; Schudy, Anna; Wiśniewska, Marcelina; Żurek, Karolina; Pinkham, Amy E.

doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104103

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Second, in line with our previous findings in a non-clinical sample (Okruszek et al, 2021), we found a robust association between hostile attribution bias, as measured with vignette-based (AIHQ)…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Of note, we recently demonstrated that only reduced social connection is associated with worse social cognitive abilities, whereas hostile attribution bias predicts both reduced social connection and loneliness in a large sample of individuals without mental health diagnoses (Okruszek et al, 2021). As such, social cognitive bias may be a plausible predictor of loneliness in patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Social cognitive bias increases loneliness both directly and by decreasing social connection in patients with schizophrenia.

Okruszek¹,

Piejka²,

Chrustowicz³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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While considerable emphasis has been put on investigating the mechanisms that drive reduced social connection in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), recent studies have increasingly focused on the issue of loneliness in SCZ. Both social cognitive bias and self-reported empathy predict loneliness in non-clinical populations, the current study, therefore, aims to examine the relationship between loneliness, reduced social connection and social cognitive biases, and self-reported empathy in SCZ. Ninety-three adult SCZ and sixty-six matched healthy individuals completed a battery of questionnaires measuring loneliness and social connection (Revised-UCLA Loneliness scale, Lubben Social Network Scale, Social Disconnectedness Scale), cognitive biases (Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire (AIHQ); Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale (DACOBS), Cognitive Biases Questionnaire for psychosis, CBQp) and self-reported empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index, IRI). Significant predictors of loneliness in SCZ were entered into two latent variables (“Social Threat Bias”, “Social Connection”), and structural equation modeling was used to explore the direct and indirect relationships between Social Threat Bias and loneliness in SCZ. Patients reported higher levels of loneliness, cognitive biases, and personal distress compared to controls. Furthermore, SCZ reported less social connection and perspective-taking compared to controls. AIHQ Blame Score, CBQp Threatening Events, DACOBS, and IRI Personal Distress were significantly associated with loneliness in SCZ. SEM modeling revealed that Social Threat Bias was linked to increased loneliness in SCZ both directly and indirectly via a decreased social connection. The results of the current study suggest that social threat bias should be considered while planning the interventions aimed to reduce loneliness in schizophrenia.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Social cognitive bias increases loneliness both directly and by decreasing social connection in patients with schizophrenia.

Okruszek¹,

Piejka²,

Chrustowicz³

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, while Ludwig et al (2020) proposed that patients with "adequate" social cognition and functioning may feel lonelier as they are better suited to appraise the mismatch between their desired and actual social functioning, we have observed no significant relationship between SC and loneliness in SC-NP sample. This finding is similar to the previous findings from healthy individuals (Okruszek et al, 2021). Moreover, a recent review concluded that problems with understanding and interpreting social situations in lonely individuals 15 may be attributed to negative cognitive bias rather than perceptual or attentional deficits (Spithoven et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Thus, it may be suggested that in individuals with intact social cognition (whether HC or SC-NP), loneliness may be associated with SC tendencies (e.g. hostile attribution bias (Okruszek et al, 2021)) rather than SC capacity per se. At the same time, previous findings suggest a negative association between SC capacity and loneliness in other cognitively-impaired samples, e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a recent review of social information processing mechanisms in lonely individuals has found conflicting findings about the association between loneliness and emotion recognition in non-clinical populations (Spithoven, Bijttebier, & Goossens, 2017). Moreover, when we administered a battery of SC tests to non-clinical controls, no associations were found between lower-level social cue processing or higher-order mentalizing abilities and loneliness (Okruszek et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

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Loneliness is associated with mentalizing and emotion recognition abilities in schizophrenia, but only in a cluster of patients with social cognitive deficits

Okruszek

Jarkiewicz

Piejka

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: Loneliness is a concern for patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). However, the correlates of loneliness in SCZ are unclear; thus, the aim of the study is to investigate neuro- and social cognitive (SC) mechanisms associated with loneliness in SCZ. Methods: Data for the study were pooled from two cross-national samples (Poland/USA) and included 147 SCZ and 103 healthy controls (HC) overall. Data from clinical, neurocognitive, and SC assessments were examined as potential predictors of loneliness in HC and SCZ samples pooled across two sites. Furthermore, Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to cluster patients based on SC capacity. Next, the relationship between SC and loneliness was explored in each cluster of SCZ. Results: SCZ reported higher levels of loneliness than HC. Loneliness was linked to increased negative and affective symptoms in patients. A negative association between loneliness and mentalizing and emotion recognition abilities was found in the patients with social-cognitive impairments, but not in those who performed at normative levels. Conclusions: We have elucidated a novel mechanism which may explain previous inconsistent findings regarding the correlates of loneliness in SCZ. As decreased SC capacity may be linked with loneliness only in patients with observable SC impairments, SC heterogeneity in SCZ needs to be recognized while planning psychosocial interventions targeting loneliness in this group.

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Oxytocin and Social Isolation: Nonapeptide Regulation of Social Homeostasis

Kareklas,

Oliveira

2024

Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology

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Owner of a lonely mind? Social cognitive capacity is associated with objective, but not perceived social isolation in healthy individuals

Cited by 25 publications

References 65 publications

Social cognitive bias increases loneliness both directly and by decreasing social connection in patients with schizophrenia.

Social cognitive bias increases loneliness both directly and by decreasing social connection in patients with schizophrenia.

Loneliness is associated with mentalizing and emotion recognition abilities in schizophrenia, but only in a cluster of patients with social cognitive deficits

Oxytocin and Social Isolation: Nonapeptide Regulation of Social Homeostasis

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