Human beings are inherently social in nature with a fundamental motivation to engage in environments and activities that facilitate social connection.
Yet, adults with serious mental illnesses experience social isolation and loneliness at rates significantly greater than the general population. Social isolation and loneliness represent inadequacies in meaningful social connectedness, limiting feelings of mattering. The purpose of this project is to reduce isolation and loneliness for adults with serious mental illnesses through facilitating social relationships that matter.
This project was developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DPCP0011-01-00; B. P. McCormick, principal investigator). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Research
The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) focuses on supporting adults with serious mental illnesses (SMI), which includes those with major affective and psychotic disorders. Adults with serious mental illness experience significantly higher rates of social isolation and loneliness than the general population of adults (Badcock, et al., 2015; Perese & Wolf, 2005). Our research explores the role of social connections, feeling welcome in community spaces, and lack of mattering to others, as leading causes of social isolation and loneliness. Additionally, we are designing and testing a novel intervention approach that focuses on these mechanisms.
Scoping Review
Exploring Risk & Protective Factors of Social Isolation and Loneliness among people with SMI. The growth of publications on loneliness and social isolation has been exponential in the past two decades, with just 86 publications on loneliness appearing in the PubMed database in 2000, while 1,456 appeared in 2020. Yet, of the 1,456 sources, there were only 19 on loneliness and schizophrenia, 5 related to loneliness and bipolar disorder and 513 on loneliness and depression. Thus, while social isolation and loneliness appear frequently in scientific literature overall, those that focus on people with SMI are less prevalent, yet still represent large numbers of publications, particularly for depression. This research project will conduct a scoping review of empirical research to identify risk and protective factors for social isolation and loneliness among adults with serious mental illnesses.
Experiential Factors Contributing to Social Isolation & Loneliness
Current research suggests that the experience of loneliness fluctuates over the course of the day, yet the relationship between dispositional and momentary loneliness remains poorly understood. Additionally, the degree to which one feels that they matter and are valued and contribute value likely varies across daily experience, as well as varies between people. This research project will use experience sampling method to identify the day-to-day experience of loneliness and mattering among adults with serious mental illnesses, to inform intervention development.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Need to be Needed Intervention
The intervention study focuses on reducing isolation and loneliness by improving one’s sense of mattering. Specifically, the intervention will focus on using acts of kindness, and experiencing gratitude through volunteering. Using the CIVIC Framework (Hare-Duke et al., 2021) and the Mattering Wheel (Prilleltensky, 2020) as a foundation, this intervention is designed to develop relationships of equality and reciprocity that extend beyond the intervention period.
Products and resources
Over the course of this Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP), look for both traditional (manuscripts, presentations, manuals) as well as technologically advanced (podcasts, tweetchats, and infographics) activities. Be sure to visit the presentations and publications links, as well as our social media links.
Products
- 2024 Calendar: 20 Years of Inclusion – Celebrating 20 Years of the Temple University Collaborative
- Relationships Matter: Stories from Individuals with Lived Experience
- Why Mattering Matters: The importance of mattering for people with serious mental illness
- You Matter…but what does mattering really mean?
- Mattering Toolkit: Creating environments where everyone matters
- Mattering Podcast: The Role of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Mental Health
Presentations
Research Publications
McCormick, B.P., Brusilovskiy, E., Nagata, S., Townley, G., Snethen, G., & Salzer, M. S. (2024). The Role of Acceptance in Everyday Loneliness Among Adults with Serious Mental Illness. Community Mental Health Journal, 60, 308–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-023-01172-4
Nagata, S., McCormick, B. P., Brusilovskiy, E., Townley, G., & Salzer, M.S. (2023). Disparities in severe loneliness between adults with and without a serious mental illness. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000591
