Horizon CDT Year 1

数字通信在社交互动、社交网络维护和人们的心理健康方面发挥着至关重要的作用(Masur，2021；Meier等人，2016)。随着语言数据提供对社交网络动态的洞察(Liu等人，2022年)，八卦是社交互动的一个重要组成部分(Yucel等人，2021年)，但缺乏这种数据。孤独感不可避免地与社交互动相关，近年来由于新冠肺炎大流行和相关的社会变化而增加(Kovacs等人，2021年)。在孤独和社会动态方面，LGBTQ+、残疾人和神经分歧人群等边缘化群体的观点经常被误解和忽视(Mellifont，2021；Armitage&Nellum，2020；Garcia等人，2019年)。此外，过去的研究已经发现了将孤独作为一种现象进行研究的问题，例如25-65岁的成年人代表性不足，大多数数据来自年轻人(18-21岁)和老年人(65岁以上)；以及在未来的研究中需要考虑行为数据(Reedman-Flint等人，2022年)。考虑到上述问题，这个博士项目旨在横向了解人们在数字和线下社交网络中的嵌入感。根据18-65岁的成年人(考虑到18-24岁的人也包括在内，因为这个年龄段通常会发生许多社会转型)、LGBTQ+社区以及临床环境之外的残疾人和神经分裂者的经验，这项分析将使我们能够深入了解社交网络的动态、语言模式以及八卦在社交团体内互动中的作用。将被边缘化的声音纳入这项研究项目将允许设计定制的干预措施来改善幸福感，包括数字自助资源和对顾问的指导。拟议的方法将是混合性质的。参与者将被邀请参加面试，并完成关于他们的社交网络动态和孤独体验的调查。在适当的情况下，将在收集的人口统计信息以及生活经历中考虑少数群体的成员身份。此外，参与者将被要求分享他们的数字足迹数据，以获得语言和社交网络洞察。数据将采用混合方法进行分析：除了社会网络分析和预测模型外，还将结合定量和定性的语言分析方法。这个博士项目将有助于理解残疾人、神经分歧者和LGTBQ+人群的社会网络动态和孤独经历；此外，还将扩大普通成年人对上述内容的现有知识。这种方法将允许根据用户的需求设计和实施数字健康干预。该项目是与B：Friend合作开展的，B：Friend是一家为孤独的老年人提供支持的朋友慈善机构。这项工作得到了工程和物理研究理事会的支持[批准号EP/S023305/1]。

Digital communication plays a crucial role in social interactions, social network maintenance and people's mental wellbeing (Masur, 2021; Meier et al., 2016). With language data providing insights into social network dynamics (Liu et al., 2022), gossip is an important component of social interactions (Yucel et al., 2021) and lack thereof.Loneliness, inevitably associated with social interactions, has increased in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social changes (Kovacs et al., 2021). The perspectives of marginalised groups such as LGBTQ+, disabled and neurodivergent people are often misunderstood and dismissed with regard to loneliness and social dynamics (Mellifont, 2021; Armitage & Nellums, 2020; Garcia et al., 2019). In addition, past research has identified issues with studies investigating loneliness as a phenomenon, such as the under-representation of adults aged 25-65, with most data coming from young (18-21) and older adults (65+); as well as the need to consider behavioural data in future research (Reedman-Flint et al., 2022).Considering the above problems, this PhD project aims to cross-sectionally understand people's sense of embeddedness in their digital and offline social networks. Drawing on the experiences of adults aged 18-65 years old (allowing for the inclusion of 18-24 year-olds due to the numerous social transitions typically happening around that age); the LGBTQ+ community as well as disabled and neurodivergent people outside of clinical settings, the analysis will allow us to gain insight into the dynamics of social networks, language patterns as well as the role of gossip in interactions within social groups.The inclusion of marginalised voices in this research project will allow to design tailored interventions for improved wellbeing, including both digital self-help resources as well as guidance for counsellors.The proposed methodology will be of mixed nature. Participants will be invited to take part in interviews and complete surveys on their social network dynamics and loneliness experiences. Minority group membership will be considered amongst the demographic information collected as well as lived experiences, where appropriate. Additionally, the participants will be asked to share their digital footprint data for language and social network insights. The data will be analysed using a mixed-methods approach: combining quantitative and qualitative language analysis methods, in addition to social network analysis and predictive models.This PhD project will contribute to the understanding of the social network dynamics and loneliness experiences of disabled, neurodivergent and LGTBQ+ people; in addition to expanding on the existing knowledge of the above for the general adult population. This approach will allow to design and implement digital wellbeing interventions tailored to the user's needs.The project is running in partnership with B:friend - a befriending charity offering support to lonely older adults. The work is supported by the Engineering and Physical Research Council [Grant number EP/S023305/1].