Recently featured in The New York Times, a study by R.C. Whitaker et al. used Add Health data to examine the link between adolescents’ sense of connection with their families and their social connectedness in adulthood—showcasing the unique value of long-term, longitudinal research. “Two decades of information gives us a greater sense of the truth,” said Dr. David Willis, a professor of pediatrics at Georgetown University who was not involved in the study. “Two decades of information is compelling. It’s a big deal.”
Among 7,018 participants, the researchers found strong, significant positive associations between higher levels of family connection in adolescence and greater social connection in adulthood. Adults who reported the highest levels of family connection during adolescence were more than twice as likely to experience high social connection later in life compared with those who reported the lowest levels. As loneliness and social isolation continue to rise across the United States—along with their negative health impacts—these findings suggest that close-knit, nurturing family environments in childhood may help foster healthier social cohesion and more enduring social relationships in adulthood.
To read the full article, click the link below. For more important findings using Add Health data, visit the Add Health publications page.
Whitaker RC, Dearth-Wesley T, Herman AN, Jordan MC. Family Connection in Adolescence and Social Connection in Adulthood. JAMA Pediatr. Published online January 26, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.5816