Relation of self-talk frequency to loneliness, need to belong, and health in German adults

This study examined whether individuals with a high need to belong and feelings of loneliness tend to compensate for a lack of social contact by self-talk and whether self-talk prevents negative consequences on their physical and mental health. The sample consisted of 559 adults drawn from the German Sozioland Panel Project. The results of SEM analyses revealed evidence for significant relations of the need to belong and loneliness with the frequency of self-talk. Moreover, the need to belong and loneliness were significantly related to mental and physical health, but loneliness was shown to be more important for the prediction of both health outcomes. Results of moderator analyses indicate that self-talk might be a risk factor for an increased negative correlation between loneliness and mental health. Self-talk, which is supposed to be related to self-awareness, might reinforce the subjective feeling of loneliness and hence have a negative impact on psychological well-being.

► We confirmed that need to belong and loneliness correlated with health outcomes.
► We have shown that individuals feeling lonely exhibited more self-talk (ST).
► We tested for moderating effects of ST on loneliness – health relations.
► ST strengthened the negative correlation between loneliness and mental health.
► Such moderating effect was not found concerning loneliness and physical health.