Linking daily dynamics of social connection to physical cognitive functioning

The National Institute on Aging awarded the University of California Irvine $5,101,916 on July 1, 2026, under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) to examine daily dynamics of social connection and their influence on physical and cognitive functioning across the adult lifespan.

The research uses longitudinal daily diary datasets from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), including four waves of diary data across approximately 20 years (beginning in 2002, 2014, and 2023) and two waves across approximately 10 years (beginning in 2012 and 2023), to study how daily fluctuations in social connection—measured as the occurrence of positive social interactions, daily sense of belonging, and social responsivity—vary by age and over time among over 2,900 adults ranging from 24 to 97 years old. The investigation examines the relationship between these daily dynamics and future physical and cognitive health outcomes, and explores how cortisol, inflammatory factors, gene expression profiles, and biomarkers of age acceleration may mediate the influence of social connection on cognitive and physical outcomes.

The period of performance extends from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. Work is performed in California.

Abstract

Social connection is a basic human need, yet this need is unmet among an alarming number of adults. Our understanding of social connection, and its strong association with health, is based largely on studies assessing social experiences using static, trait-like measures of general levels of thoughts and activities. Yet, feeling socially connected varies from day to day, fluctuating as much as other commonly recognized daily emotional experiences. Currently, we do not know how these daily dynamics influence health. This knowledge would inform interventions aimed at enhancing physical functioning and decreasing cognitive declines across the adult life span. Small, daily changes have the potential to create a ripple effect that contributes to longer-term outcomes. The current proposed program examines daily dynamics of three aspects of social connection: one structural (the occurrence of a positive social interaction), and two qualitative (daily sense of belonging; and social responsivity, defined as the degree to which feelings of emotional belonging and closeness vary when people engage in a positive interaction. We will use two longitudinal daily diary datasets from the midlife in the united states study (midus): one with four waves of diary data across approximately 20 years (waves beginning in 2002; 2014, and 2023) and another with two waves of diary data across about 10 years (waves beginning in 2012 and 2023), to examine daily dynamics of social connection, how they vary by age and have changed over time, how they are linked to future physical and cognitive health and functioning among over 2900 adults ranging from 24 to 97 years-old. We will further examine how cortisol, inflammatory factors, and gene expression profiles and biomarkers of age acceleration may mediate the influence of social connection on cognitive and physical outcomes.