How does social isolation overlap with mental health problems in young people?
Our new paper tested longitudinal genetic and environmental influences that are shared and specific to these experiences in the @ERiskstudy#OpenAccess
(thrilling 🧵 below!!)
https://t.co/4SrgNpZWeR
´To measure the importance of loneliness for public health relevance solely as a causal factor oversimplifies its complex and intricate relationship with health’ @t_matth@KTNThompson@NicolaByrom @DeliaFuhrmann @SGDPCentreKCL@DrAPitman
'Through a longitudinal genetically sensitive approach, we emphasise moving away from a view that aetiology is static and highlight that social isolation is developmentally intertwined with the experience of poor mental health. https://t.co/UQd68xhSGt
“Our findings emphasise that rather than a risk factor or an outcome, social isolation is aetiologically intertwined with the experience of poor mental health.”
New research by @KTNThompson published online today in @ESCAPonline
https://t.co/IMSBHYkMNL
Rather, we provide evidence that integrative assessment of social experiences may be a helpful add-on to assessments of mental health, and that any social support interventions should be put into practice as early as possible in development
The genetic overlap we found does *not* suggest that being isolated is determined by genes, nor that mental health symptoms will always lead to isolation (or vice versa), nor that either cannot be addressed through interventions
Given the stigma and difficulty to recognise mental health symptoms, assessing social isolation provides an additional way for children to communicate their difficulties & identify those not only at risk, but are already experiencing difficulties that have not yet been recognised
Rather than a risk factor or an outcome, social isolation could be a marker of functional impairment occurring alongside mental health symptoms. It could act as an indicator that a person is having difficulties, as well as subsequently worsen their mental health symptoms
We emphasise moving away from a view that aetiology is static and highlight that social isolation is developmentally intertwined with the experience of poor mental health
How does social isolation overlap with mental health problems in young people?
Our new paper tested longitudinal genetic and environmental influences that are shared and specific to these experiences in the @ERiskstudy#OpenAccess
(thrilling 🧵 below!!)
https://t.co/4SrgNpZWeR
We demonstrate that shared genetic risk largely explained the longitudinal overlap between social isolation and mental health symptoms, but the magnitude of this effect varied across disorders and timepoints
We used an independent pathway model to assess additive genetic (A), shared environmental (C), and non-shared environmental (E) influences on the overlap between social isolation and depression symptoms, conduct problems, and psychotic-like experiences from age 12 to 18
Social isolation is often conceptualised as a risk factor for poor mental health. However - this link is complex - social isolation could occur as a consequence of mental health symptoms, AND, a common underlying genetic liability could contribute to their co-occurrence
With the fall semester gearing up, I wanted to mention that I am on the post-doc market this cycle! My research examines strategies for reducing intergroup bias and creating environments in which targets of bias can thrive.🧵
This photo is such a beautiful reflection of the joy and pride of this amazing achievement. And two proud supervisors too. Super well done @KTNThompson on your graduation! @SGDPCentreKCL@KingsIoPPN@t_matth. The world is your oyster (and your whale too 😉).