International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with Author Dr. Siyun Peng

Name: Dr. Siyun Peng
Affiliations: School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Interests: social networks; aging; health; quantitative methods

“Quality over Quantity: The Association Between Daily Social Interactions and Loneliness”
by Siyun Peng and Adam R. Roth
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(9), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091411
Article Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1411

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
My name is Dr. Siyun Peng, and I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida. I am a gerontologist, sociologist, and applied statistician. My research examines the reciprocal links between social relationships and health across the life course. My expertise includes social networks, cognitive aging, ecological momentary assessment, and other advanced quantitative methods. The study published in IJERPH explores how different types of daily social interactions relate to loneliness. Interestingly, we found that it is not the number of interactions that matters most, but the emotional quality of those interactions.

2. What initially inspired you to get into that research field?
My interest in social relationships was shaped by my own experience growing up in a family with a conflicted marriage. My parents stayed together for the sake of the child, but the ongoing tension showed me that sometimes separation can be healthier than remaining in an unhappy relationship. That experience made me curious about how different kinds of relationships, within and beyond families, affect people’s well-being. Over time, that curiosity developed into my academic focus on social relationships and health.

3. Did you encounter any significant challenges while conducting this research? And if you did, how did you overcome them?
Yes, one major challenge is that social relationships are very complex. Traditional survey methods often oversimplify them. In our study, we used ecological momentary assessment through smartphones to collect real-time data on daily interactions, allowing us to capture a broader range of relationship types—not just close friends or family, but acquaintances and brief encounters as well. This approach provided a more detailed picture of how everyday social experiences shape loneliness.

4. For families and friends who want to support the older adults in their lives, what is the most practical piece of advice you can give based on your findings?
Our findings show that more social contact does not automatically mean less loneliness. What really matters is the quality of the interaction—having emotionally supportive and positive exchanges. Reducing conflict or tension is just as important. Simply calling an older relative often won’t help if the conversations are stressful or argumentative. What older adults need most are meaningful, kind, and understanding interactions.

5. So what research questions are you aiming to explore next in your research?
This paper is part of a larger project funded by the National Institute of Health. The project examines how social environments contribute to differences in cognitive decline between rural and urban older adults. We suspect that disparities may be partly due to differences in cognitive stimulation and opportunities for meaningful social engagement. The project uses both surveys and ecological momentary assessments to analyze real-time interactions and activity spaces.

6. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper? How was your experience submitting to IJERPH?
I previously co-authored a paper published in IJERPH and had a very positive experience. The journal’s interdisciplinary focus, commitment to public health, and efficient review process all left a strong impression on me. I also value the Open Access model, which ensures that the findings are accessible to everyone. These factors made IJERPH an ideal venue for my current research.