Bipolar spectrum risk and social network dimensions in emerging adults: Two social sides?
Introduction: Bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) encompass severe and chronic mood disorders associated with social functioning difficulties. However, little work has examined more nuanced aspects of social functioning in BSDs. Methods: This investigation recruited 1,934 emerging adult college students to examine associations of self-reported bipolar spectrum risk (including both BSD risk and current mania and depressive mood symptoms) with social functioning with peers (including social network quantity and quality, social support, and social strain). Results: Self-reported BSD risk was associated with greater social strain, but also greater social network quantity (or size) and social support. Post-hoc results suggest that self-reported mood symptoms were similarly associated with increased social conflict, but also greater social network quantity (or size) and social support. Discussion: Taken together, these findings indicate a complex picture in which BSD risk and mood symptoms are associated with both social struggles as well as strengths. Implications for the involvement of social functioning in mood disturbance are discussed.
Authors
- Liam Mason (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3957-1436)
- Daniel P. Moriarity (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8678-7307)
- Cynthia Villanueva
- Gregory P. Strauss (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7218-5169)
- Joelle LeMoult (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0931-2855)
- Iris B. Mauss (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3797-4795)
- Lauren B. Alloy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5196-2635)
- Jessica L. Borelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8471-6732)
- June Gruber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7789-1353)
- Stevi G. Ibonie
- Robb B. Rutledge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7337-5039)
- Shanmukh Vasant Kamble (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2185-8052)
- Ben Bullock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1459-9061)
- Sarah R. Holley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1508-799X)
- Robin Nusslock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6283-7824)
- Ellen Jopling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5518-2364)
- Montana L. Ploe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3907-6905)
- Gerald Young (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6722-3335)
- Amie Okuma
Institutions
- Karnatak University (IN)
- Northwestern University (US)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- University of Georgia (US)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Yale University (US)
- University College London (GB)
- Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
- San Francisco State University (US)
- Washington State University (US)
- Temple University (US)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
- Published
- 2025-02-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2025.44.1.001
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.88
Funders
- Medical Research Council