Loneliness in Aging with Schizophrenia: Effects of Real-time Positive and Negative Social Motivation

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Chronic loneliness is a pervasive issue in persons with schizophrenia and can lead to downstream consequences of worsening symptoms (e.g., paranoia, cognitive and functional impairments), social withdrawal, and diminished quality of life. Central to these challenges are deficits in social motivation, encompassing both positive motivation (i.e., desire for connection) and negative motivation (i.e., avoidance due to anxiety). High rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms further exacerbate these motivation deficits, hindering social engagement and intensifying chronic loneliness. Despite the critical role of social motivation in shaping social interactions and mental health outcomes, existing research has primarily relied on static, retrospective assessments, which fail to capture the real-time fluctuations and bidirectional relationships between social motivation, mood, social interactions, and loneliness. The proposed F31 project will use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine these dynamic processes as they unfold in daily life. By leveraging data from an NIMH-funded R01 study on loneliness and aging in schizophrenia, this study will evaluate moment-to-moment fluctuations in positive and negative social motivation, and their associations with mood, loneliness, and social interactions. Advanced statistical techniques, including linear mixed effects models and mediation analyses, will identify mechanisms linking social motivation to loneliness and mood over time. These insights aim to advance understanding of how momentary changes in social motivation shape real-world experiences in schizophrenia, with the goal of identifying modifiable targets for intervention. Through the training opportunities afforded by the F31 fellowship, the candidate will gain expertise in EMA methodologies, advanced statistical modeling, and translational research approaches. These skills will support the candidate’s long-term goals of becoming an independent investigator specializing in the social and psychological mechanisms of serious mental illness (SMI) and the development of technology-based interventions. The proposal aligns with the NIMH Strategic Plans by advancing the understanding of dynamic, modifiable processes underlying social motivation deficits in schizophrenia, and informing innovative, targeted intervention strategies.