What term describes the narrowing of one’s social world due to the death of friends and family?

The term that accurately describes the narrowing of one's social world due to the death of friends and family is "disengagement." This concept refers to the gradual withdrawal from social relationships and a diminishing of social interactions as individuals age or experience significant losses, such as the passing of loved ones. Disengagement can lead to reduced social networks and a feeling of solitude, as the remaining social connections might decrease in number or quality.

In the context of older adults experiencing loss, disengagement can manifest as a reflection of the natural process of aging, where individuals might prefer to withdraw socially as they face the reality of mortality and the loss of peers. This phenomenon is part of a broader discourse on aging in developmental psychology, illustrating the changes in social dynamics as individuals navigate grief and loss.

The other terms listed do encapsulate feelings related to social separation or exclusion but do not specifically highlight the aspect of inevitable loss as elegantly as disengagement does in the context of aging and social relationships.