Year of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

Experimental Psychology

Department or School/College

Department of Psychology

Committee Chair

Daniel J. Denis

Commitee Members

Stephanie Ashcraft, Rayna Sage, Rachel Severson, Allen Szalda-Petree

Keywords

disability, loneliness, social connection, social engagement, social isolation, social support

Abstract

Background: Social disconnection is an epidemic-level problem that is exacerbated for people with disabilities. There is a pressing need for theory-based research to illuminate the factors that contribute to effective interventions for improving social connection in this population.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were 1) to test the hypothesis that the Peer Collective, a six-week, online, group-based intervention centered on social support topics, would result in increased levels of social connection among community-dwelling adults with any types of disabilities and 2) to examine potential moderating effects in this hypothesized relationship.

Method: A longitudinal intervention study design with random assignment to conditions was used to test changes in response to the Peer Collective intervention. Pre- post- and follow-up surveys were used to assess changes in levels of social isolation, loneliness, social support and engagement in social activities, and to test the hypothesized moderating variables of disability pride and hopefulness.

Results: Survey responses were available for 101 participants from pre- to post-test. An interaction effect was seen between time and condition on engagement in social activities (partial eta2 = 0.050). Lasting effects for engagement in social activities were seen as a main effect for time, from pre-intervention to six weeks after the intervention’s completion (partial eta2 = 0.098). An interaction effect was also seen between hopefulness and time on social support (partial eta2 = 0.057). Additionally, main effects on social connection were seen for disability pride (partial eta2 = 0.174) and hopefulness (partial eta2 = 0.216).

Conclusion: The Peer Collective workshop was found to be more effective than usual Center for Independent Living services at facilitating social engagement. Hopefulness statistically moderated the effectiveness of the intervention on social support, such that participants with lower levels of hopefulness derived more social support from the intervention compared to participants with higher levels of hope. Furthermore, higher levels of disability pride and hopefulness each predicted higher levels of social connection.

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