The neurocognitive impact of loneliness and social networks on social adaptation

Social adaptation arises from the interaction between the individual and the social environment. However, there is little empirical evidence regarding the relationship between social contact and social adaptation. We propose that loneliness and social networks are key factors explaining social adaptation. Here we recruited 64 subjects to analyze the effects of loneliness, social network and their brain functional correlates on social adaptation. A hierarchical regression model confirmed that loneliness and social network have negative and positive effects on social adaptation respectively. Functional connectivity (FC) analysis showed that loneliness was associated with decreased FC between fronto-amygdalar and fronto-parietal regions, while the social network was positively associated with FC between the fronto-temporo-parietal network. Finally, a multidimensional 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 (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 may aid social development approaches.