Effects of Subjective Socioeconomic Status and Interpersonal and Non-Interpersonal Trauma on Extreme Social Withdrawal: A Path Analysis

Background: Although sociodemographic characteristics related to extreme social withdrawal (ESW) have been investigated, the role of subjective socioeconomic status (SES) and the differential effects of interpersonal and non-interpersonal trauma remain underexplored. This study examined the effects of distal (i.e. subjective SES, interpersonal, and non-interpersonal trauma) and proximal (i.e. a history of psychiatric diagnosis and depressive symptoms) risk factors on ESW. Methods: Participants were 98 young adults with ESW and 740 controls, all aged 19−35 years. Measures included sociodemographic characteristics, subjective SES, interpersonal and non-interpersonal trauma exposure, history of psychiatric diagnosis, and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical logistic regression and path analysis were conducted for statistical analyses. Results: Hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that interpersonal trauma, psychiatric diagnosis, and depression were significantly associated with ESW. Path analysis further demonstrated a significant direct effect of interpersonal trauma on ESW, as well as indirect effects whereby subjective SES, interpersonal trauma, and non-interpersonal trauma influenced ESW through psychiatric diagnoses and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: These findings provide a more comprehensive account of the mechanisms underlying ESW and highlight the complex interplay of socioeconomic, traumatic, and psychiatric factors. Interventions should adopt a multifaceted approach that addresses not only behavioral withdrawal but also socioeconomic inequality, trauma exposure, and co-occurring psychiatric symptoms.