Networks of Loneliness and Social Connection in Late Adolescence: The Role of Socio-economic Marginalisation and Earlier Bullying Experiences.

Introduction: Adolescents from low socio-economic backgrounds report higher rates of loneliness, than their high socio-economic status peers. Reasons for this vulnerability remain unclear. We investigated how peer bullying and family conflict (age 10-15 years) and loneliness and social connection (age 16-24 years) related at different levels of socio-economic marginalisation. Methods: Using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Survey (N=2,531), we captured loneliness and social connection at 16-24 years and bullying and family conflict at 10-15 years. Network analysis tested item-level relationships, whilst controlling for others. We devised a socio-economic marginalisation score, based on household income related to community average household income, to classify participants into high and low groups and to compare networks across groups. Results: Most central items in the full sample network were talking to family about worries, talking to friends about worries, and relying on friends (16-24 years), and peer bullying (10-15 years). Distinct facets of loneliness linked to specific social connection and bullying experiences. For example, feeling left out was associated with feeling let down by friends (w=-.10), feeling less understood by friends (w=-.05). Whereas feeling isolated was associated with feeling less understood by family (w=-.11) and less understood by friends (w=-.04). Peer bullying related to feeling more left out (w=.05) and more isolated (w=.04). Some associations (e.g., feeling less let down and less criticised by family) were stronger in the high socio-economic marginalisation group, who also reported more severe bullying. Conclusion: Evidence suggested family relationships remain important in late adolescence. Findings highlight the value of item-level dynamics for targeted support. Past bullying, feeling let down, left out and isolated may be key intervention targets, especially for adolescence experiencing high socio-economic marginalization.