Loneliness and social disconnectedness in pathological social withdrawal

Abstract Pathological social withdrawal (PSW) refers to a set of socially-avoidant behaviours including low social engagement. Because social disconnectedness is associated with loneliness, which in turn is linked with psychiatric conditions, investigating loneliness in PSW is important for understanding the societal burden of PSW. Here, we investigated relationships between PSW, disconnectedness from other social groups, loneliness and psychiatric disturbances in Taiwan. Individuals with PSW showed greater perceived disconnection with their peers and more loneliness than those without PSW. Duration of being socially-withdrawn and the degree of disconnection with peers were each associated with loneliness. A positive correlation between loneliness and psychiatric disturbances also emerged. As poorer perceived closeness with friends may explain loneliness and psychiatric symptoms amongst individuals with PSW, future treatment should focus on social skills or nurturing social interactions with peers, beyond family members.