This study examines how loneliness and the body’s stress response system interact to regulate social connections. We suggest that the drive to reconnect signaled by loneliness can be accompanied physiologically by the production of cortisol, which can offer supportive coping resources. Thus, we investigated how loneliness, cortisol levels, and their interaction predicted changes in network connections in a social organization. Participants (n = 193; 53% female) provided friendship network data at two times. At time 1, participants reported on loneliness and donated saliva (later assayed for cortisol). Results revealed that concurrently, lonely individuals reported fewer friendships, whereas over time, they named more friends. These results support the hypothesis that loneliness is a signal to develop connections. We also explored whom lonely individuals befriended over time. Results showed that cortisol significantly moderated the preference for friends with a similar level of loneliness. Specifically, lonely individuals with higher cortisol befriended those who were less lonely over those who were lonelier. Thus, cortisol levels may serve an adaptive function in mobilizing resources to develop connections that fulfill social belongingness needs. Results supported the theorized signaling function of loneliness and revealed that loneliness and the stress response system interact to shape social connections.

这项研究探讨了孤独感和身体的压力反应系统如何相互作用以调节社会联系。我们建议，由孤独信号发出的重新连接的驱动力可以在生理上伴随着皮质醇的产生，皮质醇可以提供支持性的应对资源。因此，我们调查了孤独感、皮质醇水平及其相互作用如何预测社会组织中网络连接的变化。参与者（n= 193; 53% 女性）两次提供友谊网络数据。在时间 1，参与者报告了孤独感并捐赠了唾液（后来检测了皮质醇）。结果显示，同时，孤独的人报告的友谊更少，而随着时间的推移，他们命名的朋友更多。这些结果支持孤独是发展联系的信号的假设。我们还探讨了随着时间的推移，孤独的人与哪些人成为朋友。结果表明，皮质醇显着降低了对孤独程度相似的朋友的偏好。具体来说，皮质醇含量较高的孤独者会与那些不那么孤独的人交朋友，而不是那些更孤独的人。因此，皮质醇水平可能在调动资源以发展满足社会归属感需求的联系方面发挥适应性功能。