Social Connectedness Profiles and Psychological Distress Among Adolescents in Summer Care Programs: A Cluster Analysis Approach

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between distinct adolescent social connectedness profiles and psychological distress in a summer care program. Design: A longitudinal design was employed to capture changes over 10 weeks in summer. Setting: The study was conducted in a community-based care program which provided weekday care over a 10-week summer period. Sample: The sample consisted of 47 adolescents aged 10-14 years attending a summer care program. Measures: Social connectedness was assessed using adult and peer subscales of the Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness, while psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Analysis: Two-step cluster analysis was used to identify distinct social connectedness profiles, and generalized estimating equations (GEE) examined psychological distress patterns between profiles over time, controlling for age and sex. Results: Two profiles emerged from the analysis: “baseline bonders” (n = 21) with moderate-low connectedness scores, and “strong socializers” (n = 26) with high connectedness scores, particularly with adults. GEE analysis revealed a significant time-by-profile interaction (β = −4.42, P =.017). Baseline bonders showed significant improvement in psychological distress (initial M = 22.46, final M = 19.20), while strong socializers remained stable (initial M = 17.38, final M = 18.54). Conclusion: Distinct social connectedness profiles were associated with differential program effects on psychological distress. Findings suggest the need to better understand connectedness and distress profiles and trajectories across summer programing.