Human social isolation and stress: a systematic review of different contexts and recommendations for future studies

Abstract Objectives The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and social distancing measures adopted worldwide raised questions about the possible health effects of human social isolation. Methods We conducted a systematic review on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase electronic databases using terms related to human social isolation - defined as the isolation of an individual from regular routines and usual social contact - and psychological stress, searching for simulated or naturalistic isolation environments. We present the main results, as well as the validity and limitations of each model. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42021241880. Results Despite the diversity of contexts reviewed, some outcomes almost ubiquitously relate to psychological stress, i.e., longer periods, expectation of a longer period, confinement, lack of social interaction, and support. Based on the results, and considering that most studies were not designed for the purpose of understanding isolation itself, we propose a group of recommendations for future experimental or naturalistic research on the topic. Conclusion Evidence on the impact of different situations in which individuals are subjected to social isolation can assist in development of directed preventive strategies to support people under similar circumstances. Such strategies might increase the general public's compliance with social distancing as a non-pharmacological intervention for emerging infectious diseases.

Escala de Necessidade de Pertencimento: Adaptação e Evidências de Validade / The Need to Belong Scale: Adaptation and Evidences of Validity / Escala de Necesidad de Pertenencia: Adaptación y Evidencias de Validez

Resumo Seres humanos possuem uma necessidade fundamental de pertencer a um grupo. Tal necessidade de pertencimento possui uma dimensão disposicional, de forma que indivíduos diferem quanto à motivação pela procura de conexões sociais e o quanto valorizam ser aceitos pelas outras pessoas. A Escala de Necessidade de Pertencimento (ENP) é um instrumento elaborado para medir tal dimensão individual. O objetivo deste trabalho foi adaptar e produzir evidências de validade da ENP para o contexto brasileiro. Foram realizados dois estudos com amostras independentes. Análises fatoriais exploratórias e confirmatórias apontaram para uma estrutura unifatorial com características psicométricas semelhantes às da escala original, indicando que a ENP pode ser considerada adequada para uso no contexto brasileiro. Em análises de convergência a ENP correlacionou-se positivamente com empatia. Ressalva-se que mais estudos são necessários para a determinação de sua estrutura fatorial, além de pesquisa transcultural sobre a necessidade de pertencimento.

Abstract Human beings have a fundamental need to belong to groups. That need has a dispositional dimension, as individuals differ on how strong is their motivation to search social connections and how much they value being accepted by others. The Need to Belong Scale (NTBS) is an instrument elaborated to measure such individual dimension of the need to belong. The present research aimed to adapt and collect validity evidence for the NTBS to the Brazilian context. The research was composed of two studies with independent samples. Factor analysis, exploratory and confirmatory, pointed to a unifactor solution with psychometric properties similar to the ones of the original scale, indicating that the NTBS may be adequate for use in the Brazilian context. In convergence analysis the NTBS was positive correlated with an empathy measure. We highlight the need for more studies to define the unifactor structure. We also suggest cross-cultural comparisons concerning the need to belong.

Resumen Los seres humanos poseen una necesidad fundamental de pertenecer a un grupo y esa necesidad tiene una dimensión disposicional, de modo que los individuos difieren en términos de motivación buscando conexiones sociales, y cómo valorizar ser aceptados por los demás. La Escala de Necesidad de Pertenencia (ENP) es un instrumento para medir tal dimensión individual, el objetivo de este trabajo fue adaptar y reunir evidencias de validez de la ENP en el contexto brasileño y fueron realizados dos estudios con muestras independientes. Los análisis factoriales, exploratorios y confirmatorios, señalaron una estructura unifactorial con características psicométricas similares a la escala original, indicando que la ENP puede ser considerada adecuada para su uso en el contexto brasileño. En análisis de convergencia la ENP se correlacionó positivamente con la empatía. Destacamos la necesidad de más estudios para la determinación de su estructura factorial, además de investigaciones transculturales sobre la necesidad de pertenencia.