Imagining the path to social connectedness: loneliness-linked alterations in goal-directed mental simulation

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/jtz3x_v1
• Publication Date: 2025-03-30T07:27:46Z
• Authors: Julie Lin Ji; Julian Basanovic; Jennifer Christin...
• Keywords: Social Connectedness; Mental model

Loneliness is a significant public health concern linked to poor mental and physical health. The present study investigated loneliness-linked alterations in goal-directed simulation involving imagining the steps one would take achieve goal state of social connectedness. Natural language processing (NLP) analyses open descriptions from N = 1,071 participants across Australia were assessed alongside self-report ratings imagery. Loneliness-linked individual differences examined four domains: episodic detail richness, imagery perceptual vividness, emotional sentiment, sociality. Results revealed that simulations reported by lonelier individuals lower internal more emotionally negative, less than those lonely individuals, with most associations persisting even after accounting for depression symptom level. Findings suggest may struggle mentally simulate concrete, vivid, rewarding future interactions needed alleviate feelings loneliness.