Multiple group membership, social network size, allostatic load and well-being: A mediation analysis

Objectives: This study examined whether social network size and allostatic load (AL) mediated the association between multiple group membership (MGM) and future physical and psychological well-being. Methods: A longitudinal design was used and data from 1026 healthy participants on the relevant variables was extracted from Wave 2(2010−12), Wave 3 (2011−2013) (for baseline MGM, social network size and AL) and Wave 9 (2017–19) (for well-being at follow-up) of the Understanding Society UK population-based dataset. Results: MGM was not directly associated with future well-being, but both social network size, β = 0.06, t = 2.02, p = .04, and AL, β = −0.06, t = −2.05, p = .04, were associated with physical but not psychological well-being at follow-up. Those who had higher numbers of friends had better physical well-being, and those who had lower AL risk scores had better physical well-being at follow-up. However, MGM was indirectly associated with physical well-being through social network size, and AL such that those reporting higher MGM, reported a greater number of friends which was associated with a lower AL and then future physical well-being, β = 0.004, CI [0.001., 0.0129]. This was not evident for psychological well-being. This mediation withstood adjustment for confounding factors (e.g. age, gender, marital status lifestyle factors). Conclusion: The present study extends findings on the existing social relationships and social cure literature and our findings are discussed in relation to the social cure hypothesis.