The Impact of Social Connectedness and Cultural Adaptation on Mental Health

Dear Colleagues,

Modern societies are witnessing unprecedented levels of cultural exchange, migration, and social change. Amid these shifts, one constant emerges: humans thrive on connection. Social ties—whether with family, friends, or community—form a critical pillar of mental well-being across all cultures. Conversely, experiences of cultural dislocation or social isolation can leave individuals vulnerable to distress. As Margaret J. Wheatley [1] insightfully observes:

“Relationships are all there is. Everything in the universe only exists because it is in relationship to everything else. Nothing exists in isolation. We have to stop pretending we are individuals that can go it alone.” —Margaret J. Wheatley

This Special Issue of Genealogy will explore how social connectedness and cultural adaptation intersect to shape mental health outcomes. With globalization, migration, and shifting social structures continually reshaping communities, individuals frequently confront challenges in maintaining a sense of belonging while navigating these cultural shifts. We invite contributions that examine the myriad ways people maintain or rebuild a sense of belonging and identity amid cultural transitions. The focus is deliberately broad and interdisciplinary, encompassing personal relationships and community bonds, traditions and adaptations, as well as resilience and vulnerability. Our goal is to illuminate how the threads of connection and culture, woven across generations, influence mental wellness.

Scope and Themes: We welcome papers addressing diverse contexts where social connectedness and cultural adaptation converge. Submissions may cover (but are not limited to) the following themes:

• Migration and Mental Health: The psychological impacts of migration, displacement, and resettlement. How do immigrants and refugees cope with the loss of familiar social networks, and in what ways do new support networks or diaspora communities buffer against stress [2]? What are the mental health effects of acculturative stress and adapting to a new cultural environment?
• Social Support Networks and Resilience: The role of family, friends, and community support in protecting mental health across cultures. Research shows that strong social connectedness can protect against depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and behavior, whereas loneliness and weak social ties elevate risk [3,4,5,6]. How do culturally specific support systems (e.g., extended kinship networks, mutual support in collectivist societies) promote well-being?
• Intergenerational Adaptation: Adaptation across generations within families, including intergenerational cultural conflict and heritage retention. For example, how do differences in acculturation between immigrant parents and their children affect family dynamics and youth mental health [7]? We encourage studies on intergenerational trauma and adaptation, such as the lingering mental health impacts of historical dislocation or assimilation policies on today’s younger generations [8].
• Indigenous Perspectives on Connectedness: Explorations of Indigenous and First Nations worldviews that emphasize holistic connectedness with family, community, culture, ancestors, and the land. Many Indigenous frameworks conceptualize mental wellness as a balance of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual elements grounded in relationships [9,10]. We seek insights on how Indigenous communities harness cultural identity, community belonging, and connection to place as sources of strength and healing [10]. How can these perspectives enrich broader understandings of social connectedness and mental health?
• Social Isolation and Mental Health: Analyses of social isolation, alienation, or loss of community—whether due to migration, urbanization, or events like the COVID-19 pandemic—and their effects on mental health. The recent pandemic, for instance, underscored how social isolation and disrupted community bonds can fuel anxiety and depression worldwide [11]. We welcome research on interventions that rebuild social ties or foster a sense of belonging for those at risk of loneliness, such as older adults, rural youths, or others facing social marginalization.

Relation to the Existing Literature: This Issue aims to supplement and expand the existing scholarship on cultural adaptation and mental health by bringing together insights from psychology, sociology, public health, anthropology, Indigenous studies, and beyond. Prior research has firmly established that social connectedness is a determinant of mental health—it not only buffers against depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and behavior but also promotes overall health and longevity [3,4]. Meanwhile, extensive studies on acculturation and mental health show that navigating between cultural worlds can be stressful, especially when support systems fracture or intergenerational conflicts arise [7]. Recent scholarship is increasingly recognizing the protective power of culturally rooted connectedness: for example, a strong sense of community belonging has been linked to lower odds of anxiety and depression among Indigenous peoples [12], and reinforcing cultural identity and connections has been shown to enhance resilience in various groups [10,5,6]. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding. How do concepts of “connectedness” differ across cultural contexts, and what can we learn by examining mental health through a relational, culturally informed lens? By situating social connectedness within the narratives of migration, cultural change, and ancestral heritage, this Special Issue will broaden the conversation beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. We strive to bridge findings from diverse populations and disciplines, generating new knowledge that informs culturally sensitive mental health practices and policies. Ultimately, our purpose is to deepen the literature with research that highlights the human capacity for adaptation and connection in the face of change—honoring the idea that who we are (and how well we are) is profoundly shaped by our bonds with others.

Submission Guidelines: We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the guest editors (marija.bogic@wsu.edu) or to the Genealogy editorial office (genealogy@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editors to ensure proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to your contributions to this Special Issue. By collectively examining “The Impact of Social Connectedness and Cultural Adaptation on Mental Health”, we hope to foster an engaging scholarly dialog—one that not only maps the current state of knowledge but also illuminates the way toward more inclusive and connected understandings of mental well-being across cultures, ultimately benefiting community mental health and resilience.

Sincerely,

References:

1. Wheatley MJ. Turning to one another: simple conversations to restore hope to the future. First edition. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, [2002] ©2002; 2002.

2. Doma H, Tran T, Rioseco P, Fisher J. Understanding the relationship between social support and mental health of humanitarian migrants resettled in Australia. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1739.

3. Wickramaratne PJ, Yangchen T, Lepow L, et al. Social connectedness as a determinant of mental health: A scoping review. PLoS One. 2022;17(10):e0275004.

4. Bogic M, Hebert LE, Evanson A, et al. Connected for life: How social connectedness can help prevent suicide in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2024;51:259-267.

5. Chandler MJ, Lalonde C. Cultural Continuity as a Hedge against Suicide in Canada's First Nations. Transcultural Psychiatry. 1998;35(2):191-219.

6. Allen J, Wexler L, Rasmus S. Protective Factors as a Unifying Framework for Strength-Based Intervention and Culturally Responsive American Indian and Alaska Native Suicide Prevention. Prev Sci. 2022;23(1):59-72.

7. Lui PP. Intergenerational cultural conflict, mental health, and educational outcomes among Asian and Latino/a Americans: Qualitative and meta-analytic review. Psychol Bull. 2015;141(2):404-446.

8. Gone JP, Hartmann WE, Pomerville A, Wendt DC, Klem SH, Burrage RL. The impact of historical trauma on health outcomes for indigenous populations in the USA and Canada: A systematic review. American Psychologist. 2019;74(1):20-35.

9. Ullrich JS. For the love of our children: an Indigenous connectedness framework. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples. 2019;15(2):121-130.

10. Walls M, Hautala D, Cole A, et al. Socio-cultural integration and holistic health among Indigenous young adults. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1002.

11. COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide [press release]. 2022.

12. Burnett C, Purkey E, Davison CM, et al. Spirituality, Community Belonging, and Mental Health Outcomes of Indigenous Peoples during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(4).

Dr. Marija Bogic
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genealogy is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• social connectedness
• cultural adaptation
• mental health
• belonging and identity
• resilience and community support
• health equity