Effects of Subjective Socioeconomic Status and Interpersonal and Non-Interpersonal Trauma on Extreme Social...

Although sociodemographic characteristics related to extreme social withdrawal (ESW) have been investigated, the role of subjective socioeconomic status (SES) and the differential effects of interpersonal and non-interpersonal trauma remain underexplored. This study examined the effects of distal (i.e. subjective SES, interpersonal, and non-interpersonal trauma) and proximal (i.e. a history of psychiatric diagnosis and depressive symptoms) risk factors on ESW.

Participants were 98 young adults with ESW and 740 controls, all aged 19-35 years. Measures included sociodemographic characteristics, subjective SES, interpersonal and non-interpersonal trauma exposure, history of psychiatric diagnosis, and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical logistic regression and path analysis were conducted for statistical analyses.

Hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that interpersonal trauma, psychiatric diagnosis, and depression were significantly associated with ESW. Path analysis further demonstrated a significant direct effect of interpersonal trauma on ESW, as well as indirect effects whereby subjective SES, interpersonal trauma, and non-interpersonal trauma influenced ESW through psychiatric diagnoses and depressive symptoms.

These findings provide a more comprehensive account of the mechanisms underlying ESW and highlight the complex interplay of socioeconomic, traumatic, and psychiatric factors. Interventions should adopt a multifaceted approach that addresses not only behavioral withdrawal but also socioeconomic inequality, trauma exposure, and co-occurring psychiatric symptoms.