Abstract
There is a high prevalence of loneliness among adults with serious mental illness (SMI) with most research focusing on stable contributing factors. This study sought to identify the role of dispositional loneliness and internalized stigma, as well as the momentary feelings of acceptance on experiential loneliness among adults with SMI. Data were collected using ecological momentary assessment via smart phones, and 89 adults with a SMI were included. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to identify the role of dispositional and experience factors in experiential loneliness. Findings indicated that (a) dispositional internalized stigma, (b) being at home, (c) being alone and, (d) a cross-level interaction between dispositional loneliness and feelings of acceptance best fit the data. The relationship of acceptance to experiential loneliness was strongest among the most lonely. Supporting people with SMI to develop social connections contributing to their relational value may enhance feelings of acceptance and reduce loneliness.
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Notes
Results employing a 50% response to prompts (n = 64) produced the same pattern of significant relationships.
References
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The contents of this publication were developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR Grant Numbers # 90RT5021-02-00, #90DPCP0011-01-00). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this publication do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
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EB and BPM co-led the conceptualization of the study. EB conducted the formal analysis, and BPM created the original draft. BPM, EB, SN, GT, GS and MSS contributed to writing and editing revised versions. MSS secured funding, and supervised project administration. All authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
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McCormick, B.P., Brusilovskiy, E., Nagata, S. et al. The Role of Acceptance in Everyday Loneliness Among Adults with Serious Mental Illness. Community Ment Health J 60, 308–316 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-023-01172-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-023-01172-4