Socio‐Emotional Selectivity in Patients With Severe Chronic or Life‐Threatening Conditions: A Systematic Review of Changes in Social Goals and Psychological Well‐Being in Alzheimer’s Disease and Cancer

Theory of socio‐emotional selectivity (SST) posits that social goals and emotional priorities shift when individuals perceive their remaining lifetime as limited. While well established in aging, its relevance in severely ill patients is underexplored. This systematic review focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and cancer as conditions marked by a limited time perspective. Thirteen empirical studies were analyzed regarding (1) prioritization of emotionally meaningful relationships, (2) the role of disease progression in intensifying social selectivity, (3) links between social embedding and psychological adaptation, and (4) the role of perceived time horizon. Findings consistently support SST: patients prioritize close emotional bonds, with selectivity increasing as illness advances. Strong emotional networks are associated with greater psychological resilience and reduced distress. These results highlight the clinical value of fostering meaningful social connections in severely ill individuals. Future research should clarify causal mechanisms, particularly the mediating role of time perception, expand to other neurodegenerative conditions, and develop interventions suited to patients with cognitive or physical limitations.