Loneliness and Social Isolation in Persons with Neurological Disorders: Definition, Assessment, Intervention, and Implication 4214

In 2023, the Surgeon General identified loneliness and social isolation as urgent issues in the US. Research shows that loneliness is prevalent among individuals with neurological disorders, such as spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D) and stroke. Studies report that over half of Veterans with SCI/D experience high perceived social isolation (PSI), while 44% of stroke survivors in the UK feel lonely, with those having a stroke being 70% more likely to report loneliness than those without. These problems increase the risk of adverse health outcomes, including depression and poorer quality of life. Despite these impacts, intervention research to enhance social connectedness in this population is limited. This symposium will provide an overview of social isolation and loneliness research, including definitions, assessment, and treatment strategies. It will also highlight recent projects focused on real-time PSI assessments in stroke patients and behavioral interventions aimed at reducing loneliness and PSI in persons with SCI/D.