How does loneliness impact our physical and mental health. What are the long-term consequences of social isolation. Who is most at risk for experiencing chronic loneliness. How can we combat the growing epidemic of social disconnection in modern society.

The Alarming Prevalence of Loneliness in Modern Society

In our increasingly connected digital world, an insidious epidemic of disconnection is spreading silently through communities. Recent studies have revealed the shocking scope of loneliness and social isolation, particularly among older adults. According to a comprehensive report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), over one-third of adults aged 45 and older experience feelings of loneliness. Even more concerningly, nearly a quarter of adults 65 and older are considered socially isolated.

These statistics paint a grim picture of the state of social connection in modern society. But what exactly do we mean by loneliness and social isolation? While related, these terms describe distinct phenomena:

• Loneliness refers to the subjective feeling of being alone, regardless of one’s actual amount of social contact
• Social isolation describes an objective lack of social connections and interactions

Importantly, one can experience loneliness without being socially isolated, and vice versa. However, both conditions pose serious risks to physical and mental wellbeing, especially as we age.

The Devastating Health Consequences of Chronic Loneliness

Far from being merely an unpleasant emotional state, loneliness and social isolation have been linked to a host of severe health outcomes. Recent research has uncovered alarming associations between social disconnection and increased risk for a variety of medical conditions:

• 50% higher risk of dementia
• 29% increased risk of heart disease
• 32% higher likelihood of stroke
• Significantly elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide

Perhaps most shockingly, social isolation was found to increase a person’s risk of premature death from all causes to a degree comparable with other well-established risk factors like smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.

For those already facing health challenges, loneliness can dramatically worsen outcomes. Among heart failure patients, for instance, loneliness was associated with:

• Nearly 4 times higher risk of death
• 68% increased risk of hospitalization
• 57% higher likelihood of emergency department visits

These statistics underscore the profound impact that our social connections – or lack thereof – can have on our physical wellbeing. But what mechanisms underlie this link between loneliness and declining health?

The Biology of Loneliness: How Social Isolation Affects Our Bodies

Emerging research is shedding light on the complex biological pathways through which chronic loneliness can erode our health over time. Studies have found that social isolation is associated with:

• Increased inflammation throughout the body
• Weakened immune function
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Elevated stress hormones like cortisol
• Accelerated cognitive decline

These physiological changes can snowball over time, increasing vulnerability to a wide range of health problems. The cumulative toll of loneliness on the body may help explain its association with such a diverse array of medical conditions.

Identifying High-Risk Groups for Social Isolation

While loneliness can affect anyone, certain populations face a disproportionately high risk of becoming socially isolated. Understanding these vulnerable groups is crucial for developing targeted interventions and support systems.

Older Adults: A Perfect Storm for Social Disconnection

Adults over 65 are particularly susceptible to social isolation due to a confluence of risk factors, including:

• Living alone after the loss of a spouse or partner
• Retirement leading to fewer daily social interactions
• Chronic health conditions limiting mobility and independence
• Hearing loss making communication more challenging
• Deaths of friends and family members shrinking social networks

As the global population continues to age, addressing loneliness among seniors will become an increasingly urgent public health priority.

Immigrant Communities: Navigating Cultural Barriers to Connection

Immigrants often face unique obstacles to forming strong social ties in their new communities. Some key challenges include:

• Language barriers limiting communication
• Cultural differences in social norms and expectations
• Lack of established support networks in a new country
• Discrimination and social exclusion

Research indicates that Latino immigrants, for example, tend to have fewer social connections and lower levels of social integration compared to US-born Latinos. First-generation immigrants in particular may struggle to form deep, meaningful relationships in their adopted home.

LGBTQ+ Individuals: Combating Stigma and Isolation

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are another group at elevated risk for chronic loneliness. Factors contributing to this increased vulnerability include:

• Social stigma and discrimination
• Rejection by family or religious communities
• Difficulty finding accepting social spaces
• Barriers to accessing healthcare and support services

Studies have consistently found higher rates of loneliness among gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals compared to their heterosexual peers. Transgender people may face even greater challenges in forming supportive social connections.

Breaking the Cycle: Strategies for Combating Loneliness

Given the serious health consequences of chronic social isolation, developing effective interventions is crucial. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, several promising approaches have emerged:

Community-Based Programs

Local initiatives that bring people together for shared activities can be powerful antidotes to loneliness. Some successful models include:

• Senior centers offering social events, classes, and group meals
• Intergenerational mentoring programs
• Volunteer opportunities allowing isolated individuals to contribute to their communities
• Support groups for specific populations (e.g. widows, cancer survivors)

Technology-Enabled Connections

While excessive screen time can sometimes exacerbate feelings of isolation, technology can also be leveraged to foster meaningful connections:

• Video chat platforms allowing face-to-face communication with distant loved ones
• Online communities uniting people with shared interests or experiences
• Virtual reality experiences enabling immersive social interactions
• AI companions providing conversational engagement for isolated seniors

Healthcare System Interventions

Medical professionals can play a crucial role in identifying and addressing loneliness among their patients:

• Screening for social isolation as part of routine health assessments
• Prescribing “social activities” alongside traditional medical treatments
• Connecting patients to community resources and support services
• Offering group medical appointments to foster peer support

The Role of Public Policy in Addressing the Loneliness Epidemic

Tackling widespread social isolation will require coordinated action at the societal level. Some potential policy approaches include:

• Investing in public spaces that encourage social interaction (e.g. parks, community centers)
• Implementing urban planning strategies to create more connected neighborhoods
• Expanding access to mental health services and social support programs
• Launching public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around loneliness
• Funding research into the causes and consequences of social isolation

By treating loneliness as a serious public health issue, policymakers can help create environments that foster stronger social connections for all members of society.

Cultivating Meaningful Connections in a Digital Age

While external interventions are important, individuals can also take steps to build more fulfilling social lives. Some strategies for fostering genuine connections include:

• Prioritizing quality over quantity in relationships
• Practicing active listening and empathy in conversations
• Joining groups or clubs aligned with personal interests
• Volunteering for causes that feel meaningful
• Reaching out to old friends or estranged family members
• Learning to be comfortable with solitude and self-reflection

By consciously cultivating a rich social life, we can build resilience against the isolating forces of modern society.

The Future of Social Connection: Challenges and Opportunities

As we look to the future, several trends are likely to shape the landscape of social connection:

Demographic Shifts

An aging global population will necessitate new approaches to supporting social engagement among seniors. At the same time, declining birth rates in many countries may lead to smaller family networks, potentially increasing reliance on non-familial social ties.

Technological Advancements

Emerging technologies like augmented reality, brain-computer interfaces, and advanced AI could radically transform how we interact and form relationships. While these innovations offer exciting possibilities for connection, they also raise complex ethical questions about the nature of human relationships.

Environmental Challenges

Climate change and environmental degradation may force mass migrations and disrupt established communities. Building social resilience will be crucial for helping displaced populations adapt and thrive in new environments.

evolving Work Patterns

The rise of remote work and the gig economy is reshaping traditional workplace social structures. New models for fostering professional connections and combating isolation among distributed workforces will need to be developed.

By anticipating these challenges and proactively developing solutions, we can work towards a future where meaningful social connection is accessible to all.

Reweaving the Social Fabric: A Call to Action

The epidemic of loneliness represents one of the most pressing yet underrecognized public health crises of our time. Its effects ripple through every aspect of individual and societal wellbeing, from physical health to economic productivity to community cohesion.

Addressing this challenge will require a coordinated effort from policymakers, healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals. By prioritizing social connection as a fundamental human need, we can begin to reverse the tide of isolation and build more resilient, interconnected communities.

The path forward will not be easy, but the stakes could not be higher. In a world facing unprecedented global challenges, our ability to come together and support one another may well determine our collective future. The time has come to recognize loneliness not just as a personal struggle, but as a societal imperative demanding our urgent attention and action.

Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions

Social isolation was associated with about
a 50% increased risk of dementia and other
serious medical conditions.

Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States and putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions.

A reportexternal icon from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) points out that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated.¹ Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.

Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact. Social isolation is a lack of social connections. Social isolation can lead to loneliness in some people, while others can feel lonely without being socially isolated.

Health Risks of Loneliness

Although it’s hard to measure social isolation and loneliness precisely, there is strong evidence that many adults aged 50 and older are socially isolated or lonely in ways that put their health at risk. Recent studies found that:

• Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.¹
• Social isolation was associated with about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia.¹
• Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) was associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.¹
• Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
• Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.¹

Immigrant, LGBT People Are at Higher Risk

The report highlights loneliness among vulnerable older adults, including immigrants; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations; minorities; and victims of elder abuse. It also points out that the literature base for these populations is sparse and more research is needed to determine risks, impacts, and appropriate actions needed.

Current research suggests that immigrant, and lesbian, gay, bisexual populations experience loneliness more often than other groups. Latino immigrants, for example, “have fewer social ties and lower levels of social integration than US-born Latinos.” First-generation immigrants experience stressors that can increase their social isolation, such as language barriers, differences in community, family dynamics, and new relationships that lack depth or history, the report states. Similarly, gay, lesbian, and bisexual populations tend to have more loneliness than their heterosexual peers because of stigma, discrimination, and barriers to care.

What Can You Do If You Are Experiencing Loneliness?

Your doctor can assess your risk for loneliness and social isolation and get you connected to community resources for help, if needed. The following national organizations also offer helpful resources:

AARPexternal icon—Provides helpful information to seniors to help improve quality of life and provides access to Community Connection Tools.

Area Agencies on Agingexternal icon (AAA)—A network of over 620 organizations across America that provides information and assistance with programs including nutrition and meal programs (counseling and home-delivered or group meals), caregiver support, and more. The website can help you find your local AAA, which may provide classes in Tai Chi and diabetes self-management.

Eldercare Locatorexternal icon—A free national service that helps find local resources for seniors such as financial support, caregiving services, and transportation. It includes a brochure that shows how volunteering can help keep you socially connected.

National Council on Agingexternal icon—Works with nonprofit organizations, governments, and businesses to provide community programs and services. This is the place to find what senior programs are available to assist with healthy aging and financial security, including the Aging Mastery Program® that is shown to increase social connectedness and healthy eating habits.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)external icon– Provides materials on social isolation and loneliness for older adults, caregivers, and health care providers. Materials include health information, a print publication available to view or order no-cost paper copies, a health care provider flyer, and social media graphics and posts.

Health Care System Interventions Are Key

People generally are social by nature, and high-quality social relationships can help them live longer, healthier lives. Health care systems are an important, yet underused, partner in identifying loneliness and preventing medical conditions associated with loneliness.

Nearly all adults aged 50 or older interact with the health care system in some way. For those without social connections, a doctor’s appointment or visit from a home health nurse may be one of the few face-to-face encounters they have. This represents a unique opportunity for clinicians to identify people at risk for loneliness or social isolation.

NASEM recommends that clinicians periodically assess patients who may be at risk and connect them to community resources for help. In clinical settings, NASEM recommends using the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index (for measuring social isolation) and the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (for measuring loneliness).

But patients must make their own decisions. Some people may like being alone. It is also important to note that social isolation and loneliness are two distinct aspects of social relationships, and they are not significantly linked. Both can put health at risk, however.

Risk to health | Campaign to End Loneliness

1] Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T.B., Baker, M., Harris, T. and Stephenson, D., 2015. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on psychological science, 10(2), pp.227-237

[2] Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T.B. and Layton, J.B., 2010. Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLoS medicine, 7(7), p.e1000316.

[3] Valtorta, N.K., Kanaan, M., Gilbody, S., Ronzi, S. and Hanratty, B., 2016. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart, 102(13), pp.1009-1016.

[4] Hawkley, L.C., Thisted, R.A., Masi, C.M. and Cacioppo, J.T., 2010. Loneliness predicts increased blood pressure: 5-year cross-lagged analyses in middle-aged and older adults. Psychology and aging, 25(1), p.132.

[5] Social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for the progress ion of frailty: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Gale C, Westbury L, Cooper C, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, Age and Ageing, Volume 47, Issue 3, 1 May 2018, Pages 392–397

[6] Global   Council   on   Brain   Health.   (2017).   The   brain   and   social   connectedness:   GCBH   recommendations   on   social   engagement    and    brain    health.    Retrieved    from    www.GlobalCouncilOnBrainHealth.org.

[7] Cacioppo, J.T. and Cacioppo, S., 2014. Older adults reporting social isolation or loneliness show poorer cognitive function 4 years later. Evidence-based nursing, 17(2), pp.59-60.

[8] O’Connell, H., Chin, A.V., Cunningham, C. and Lawlor, B.A., 2004. Recent developments: suicide in older people. Bmj, 329(7471), pp.895-899.

[9] Cacioppo, J.T. and Cacioppo, S., 2014. Older adults reporting social isolation or loneliness show poorer cognitive function 4 years later. Evidence-based nursing, 17(2), pp.59-60.

[10] Shankar, Aparna, et al. “Social isolation and loneliness: Prospective associations with functional status in older adults. ” Health psychology 36.2 (2017): 179.

[11] Holt-Lunstad, Julianne. “The potential public health relevance of social isolation and loneliness: Prevalence, epidemiology, and risk factors.” Public Policy & Aging Report 27.4 (2017): 127-130.

[12] Cacioppo, J.T., Hawkley, L.C., Crawford, L.E., Ernst, J.M., Burleson, M.H., Kowalewski, R.B., Malarkey, W.B., Van Cauter, E. and Berntson, G.G., 2002. Loneliness and health: Potential mechanisms. Psychosomatic medicine, 64(3), pp.407-417.

[13] Valtorta, N.K., Kanaan, M., Gilbody, S., Ronzi, S. and Hanratty, B., 2016. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart, 102(13), pp.1009-1016.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Dreyer K, Stevenson A, Fisher R, Deeny SR. The association between living alone and health care utilisation in older adults: a retrospective cohort study of electronic health records from a London general practice. BMC Geriatrics 2018;18:269 Available at: https://bmcgeriatr.biomed-central.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-018-0939-45.

[16]Ibid.

[17] Hanratty B, Stowl D, Collingridge Moore D, Valtora NK. Loneliness as a risk factor for care home admission in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Age and Ageing 2018;47(6):896–900

[18]Hanratty B, Stowl D, Collingridge Moore D, Valtora NK. Loneliness as a risk factor for care home admission in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Age and Ageing 2018;47(6):896–900

The risks of social isolation

Overview

CE credits: 1

Learning objectives: After reading this article, CE candidates will be able to: 

1. Identify the effects of social isolation and loneliness on physical, mental and cognitive health.
2. Explore how loneliness differs from social isolation.
3. Discuss evidence-based interventions for combating loneliness.

For more information on earning CE credit for this article, go to www.apa.org/ed/ce/resources/ce-corner.aspx.

According to a 2018 national survey by Cigna, loneliness levels have reached an all-time high, with nearly half of 20,000 U.S. adults reporting they sometimes or always feel alone. Forty percent of survey participants also reported they sometimes or always feel that their relationships are not meaningful and that they feel isolated.

Such numbers are alarming because of the health and mental health risks associated with loneliness. According to a meta-analysis co-authored by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, lack of social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having alcohol use disorder. She’s also found that loneliness and social isolation are twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity (Perspectives on Psychological Science, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2015).

“There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators,” Holt­Lunstad says.

In an effort to stem such health risks, campaigns and coalitions to reduce social isolation and loneliness—an individual’s perceived level of social isolation—have been launched in Australia, ­Denmark and the United Kingdom. These national programs bring together research experts, nonprofit and government agencies, community groups and skilled volunteers to raise awareness of loneliness and address social isolation through evidence-based interventions and advocacy.

But is loneliness really increasing, or is it a condition that humans have always experienced at various times of life? In other words, are we becoming lonelier or just more inclined to recognize and talk about the problem?

These are tough questions to answer because historical data about loneliness are scant. Still, some research suggests that social isolation is increasing, so loneliness may be, too, says Holt-Lunstad. The most recent U.S. census data, for example, show that more than a quarter of the population lives alone—the highest rate ever recorded. In addition, more than half of the population is unmarried, and marriage rates and the number of children per household have declined since the previous census. Rates of volunteerism have also decreased, according to research by the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute, and an increasing percentage of Americans report no religious affiliation—suggesting declines in the kinds of religious and other institutional connections that can provide community.

“Regardless of whether loneliness is increasing or remaining stable, we have lots of evidence that a significant portion of the population is affected by it,” says Holt­Lunstad. “Being connected to others socially is widely considered a fundamental human need—crucial to both well-being and survival. “

As experts in behavior change, psychologists are well-positioned to help the nation combat loneliness. Through their research and public policy work, many psychologists have been providing data and detailed recommendations for advancing social connection as a U.S. public health priority on both the societal and individual levels.

“With an increasing aging population, the effects of loneliness on public health are only anticipated to increase,” Holt-Lunstad says. “The challenge we face now is figuring out what can be done about it.”

Who is most likely?

Loneliness is an experience that has been around since the beginning of time—and we all deal with it, according to Ami Rokach, PhD, an instructor at York University in Canada and a clinical psychologist. “It’s something every single one of us deals with from time to time,” he explains, and can occur during life transitions such as the death of a loved one, a divorce or a move to a new place. This kind of loneliness is referred to by researchers as reactive loneliness.

Problems can arise, however, when an experience of loneliness becomes chronic, Rokach notes. “If reactive loneliness is painful, chronic loneliness is torturous,” he says. Chronic loneliness is most likely to set in when individuals either don’t have the emotional, mental or financial resources to get out and satisfy their social needs or they lack a social circle that can provide these benefits, says psychologist Louise Hawkley, PhD, a senior research scientist at the research organization NORC at the University of Chicago.

“That’s when things can become very problematic, and when many of the major negative health consequences of loneliness can set in,” she says.

Last year, a Pew Research Center survey of more than 6,000 U.S. adults linked frequent loneliness to dissatisfaction with one’s family, social and community life. About 28 percent of those dissatisfied with their family life feel lonely all or most of the time, compared with just 7 percent of those satisfied with their family life. Satisfaction with one’s social life follows a similar pattern: 26 percent of those dissatisfied with their social lives are frequently lonely, compared with just 5 percent of those who are satisfied with their social lives. One in five Americans who say they are not satisfied with the quality of life in their local communities feel frequent loneliness, roughly triple the 7 percent of Americans who are satisfied with the quality of life in their communities.

And, of course, loneliness can occur when people are surrounded by others—on the subway, in a classroom, or even with their spouses and children, according to Rokach, who adds that loneliness is not synonymous with chosen isolation or solitude. Rather, loneliness is defined by people’s levels of satisfaction with their connectedness, or their perceived social isolation.

Effects of loneliness and isolation

As demonstrated by a review of the effects of perceived social isolation across the life span, co-authored by Hawkley, loneliness can wreak havoc on an individual’s physical, mental and cognitive health (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Vol. 370, No. 1669, 2015). Hawkley points to evidence linking perceived social isolation with adverse health consequences including depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function and impaired immunity at every stage of life. In addition, a 2019 study led by Kassandra Alcaraz, PhD, MPH, a public health researcher with the American Cancer Society, analyzed data from more than 580,000 adults and found that social isolation increases the risk of premature death from every cause for every race (American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 188, No. 1, 2019). According to Alcaraz, among black participants, social isolation doubled the risk of early death, while it increased the risk among white participants by 60 to 84 percent.

“Our research really shows that the magnitude of risk presented by social isolation is very similar in magnitude to that of obesity, smoking, lack of access to care and physical inactivity,” she says. In the study, investigators weighted several standard measures of social isolation, including marital status, frequency of religious service attendance, club meetings/group activities and number of close friends or relatives. They found that overall, race seemed to be a stronger predictor of social isolation than sex; white men and women were more likely to be in the least isolated category than were black men and women.

The American Cancer Society study is the largest to date on all races and genders, but previous research has provided glimpses into the harmful effects of social isolation and loneliness. A 2016 study led by Newcastle University epidemiologist Nicole Valtorta, PhD, for example, linked loneliness to a 30 percent increase in risk of stroke or the development of coronary heart disease (Heart, Vol. 102, No. 13). Valtorta notes that a lonely individual’s higher risk of ill health likely stems from several combined factors: behavioral, biological and psychological.

“Lacking encouragement from family or friends, those who are lonely may slide into unhealthy habits,” Valtorta says. “In addition, loneliness has been found to raise levels of stress, impede sleep and, in turn, harm the body. Loneliness can also augment depression or anxiety.”

Last year, researchers at the Florida State University College of Medicine also found that loneliness is associated with a 40 percent increase in a person’s risk of dementia (The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, online 2018). Led by Angelina Sutin, PhD, the study examined data on more than 12,000 U.S. adults ages 50 years and older. Participants rated their levels of loneliness and social isolation and completed a cognitive battery every two years for up to 10 years.

Among older adults in particular, loneliness is more likely to set in when an individual is dealing with functional limitations and has low family support, Hawkley says. Better self-rated health, more social interaction and less family strain reduce older adults’ feelings of loneliness, according to a study, led by Hawkley, examining data from more than 2,200 older adults (Research on Aging, Vol. 40, No. 4, 2018). “Even among those who started out lonely, those who were in better health and socialized with others more often had much better odds of subsequently recovering from their loneliness,” she says.

A 2015 study led by Steven Cole, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, provides additional clues as to why loneliness can harm overall health (PNAS, Vol. 112, No. 49, 2015). He and his colleagues examined gene expressions in leukocytes, white blood cells that play key roles in the immune system’s response to infection. They found that the leukocytes of lonely participants—both humans and rhesus macaques—showed an increased expression of genes involved in inflammation and a decreased expression of genes involved in antiviral responses.

Loneliness, it seems, can lead to long-term “fight-or-flight” stress signaling, which negatively affects immune system functioning. Simply put, people who feel lonely have less immunity and more inflammation than people who don’t.

Combating loneliness

While the harmful effects of loneliness are well established in the research literature, finding solutions to curb chronic loneliness has proven more challenging, says Holt-Lunstad.

Developing effective interventions is not a simple task because there’s no single underlying cause of loneliness, she says. “Different people may be lonely for different reasons, and so a one-size-fits-all kind of intervention is not likely to work because you need something that is going to address the underlying cause.” Rokach notes that efforts to minimize loneliness can start at home, with teaching children that aloneness does not mean loneliness. Also, he says, schools can help foster environments in which children look for, identify and intervene when a peer seems lonely or disconnected from others.

In terms of additional ways to address social isolation and feelings of loneliness, research led by Christopher Masi, MD, and a team of researchers at the University of Chicago suggests that interventions that focus inward and address the negative thoughts underlying loneliness in the first place seem to help combat loneliness more than those designed to improve social skills, enhance social support or increase opportunities for social interaction (Personality and Social Psychology Review, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2011). The meta-analysis reviewed 20 randomized trials of interventions to decrease loneliness in children, adolescents and adults and showed that addressing what the researchers termed maladaptive social cognition through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) worked best because it empowered patients to recognize and deal with their negative thoughts about self-worth and how others perceive them, says Hawkley, one of the study’s co-authors.

Still, some research has found that engaging older adults in community and social groups can lead to positive mental health effects and reduce feelings of loneliness. Last year, Julene Johnson, PhD, a University of California, San Francisco researcher on aging, examined how joining a choir might combat feelings of loneliness among older adults (The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, online 2018). Half of the study’s 12 senior centers were randomly selected for the choir program, which involved weekly 90-minute choir sessions, including informal public performances. The other half of the centers did not participate in choir sessions. After six months, the researchers found no significant differences between the two groups on tests of cognitive function, lower body strength and overall psychosocial health. But they did find significant improvements in two components of the psychosocial evaluation among choir participants: This group reported feeling less lonely and indicated they had more interest in life. Seniors in the non-choir group saw no change in their loneliness, and their interest in life declined slightly.

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have also found that older adults who take part in social groups such as book clubs or church groups have a lower risk of death (BMJ Open, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2016). Led by psychologist Niklas Steffens, PhD, the team tracked the health of 424 people for six years after they had retired and found that social group membership had a compounding effect on quality of life and risk of death. Compared with those still working, every group membership lost after retirement was associated with around a 10 percent drop in quality of life six years later. In addition, if participants belonged to two groups before retirement and kept these up over the following six years, their risk of death was 2 percent, rising to 5 percent if they gave up membership in one group and to 12 percent if they gave up membership in both.

“In this regard, practical interventions need to focus on helping retirees to maintain their sense of purpose and belonging by assisting them to connect to groups and communities that are meaningful to them,” the authors say.

To that end, cohousing appears to be growing in popularity among young and old around the world as a way to improve social connections and decrease loneliness, among other benefits. Cohousing communities and mixed-age residences are intentionally built to bring older and younger generations together, either in whole neighborhoods within single-family homes or in larger apartment buildings, where they share dining, laundry and recreational spaces. Neighbors gather for parties, games, movies or other events, and the co­housing piece makes it easy to form clubs, organize child and elder care, and carpool. Hawkley and other psychologists argue that these living situations may also provide an antidote to loneliness, particularly among older adults. Although formal evaluations of their effectiveness in reducing loneliness remain scarce, cohousing communities in the United States now number 165 nationwide, according to the Cohousing Association, with another 140 in the planning stages.

“Older adults have become so marginalized and made to feel as though they are no longer productive members of society, which is lonely-making in and of itself,” Hawkley says. “For society to be healthy, we have to find ways to include all segments of the population, and many of these intergenerational housing programs seem to be doing a lot in terms of dispelling myths about old age and helping older individuals feel like they are important and valued members of society again. ” 

Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Loneliness

Short-term bouts of loneliness can occur to many people at some point in their lives. These types of feelings are typically brief and not considered chronic. However, when feelings of loneliness and isolation worsen and continue long-term, there may be more serious signs and symptoms to be aware of and steps you can take to help deal with chronic loneliness.

What is chronic loneliness?

Chronic loneliness occurs when feelings of loneliness and uncomfortable social isolation go on for a long period of time. It’s characterized by constant and unrelenting feelings of being alone, separated or divided from others, and an inability to connect on a deeper level. It can also be accompanied by deeply rooted feelings of inadequacy, poor self-esteem, and self-loathing.¹

Ongoing loneliness can afflict even the most seemingly outgoing person. Being the “life of the party” doesn’t necessarily exclude someone from being chronically lonely. This type of chronic, or long-term loneliness, can eventually impact all areas of your life.

What are the main signs and symptoms of chronic loneliness?

Chronic loneliness symptoms and signs can differ depending on who you are and your situation. If you consistently feel some or all of the following, you may be dealing with chronic loneliness:

• Inability to connect with others on a deeper, more intimate level. Maybe you have friends and family in your life, but engagement with them is at a very surface level. Your interaction doesn’t feel connected in a way that is fulfilling and this disconnection seems never ending.
• No close or “best” friends. You have friends, but they are casual friends or acquaintances and you feel you can find no one who truly “gets” you.
• Overwhelming feeling of isolation regardless of where you are and who’s around. You can be at a party surrounded by dozens of people and, yet, you feel isolated, separate, and disengaged. At work, you may feel alienated and alone. Same on a bus, train, or walking down a busy street. It’s as if you’re in your own unbreakable bubble.
• Negative feelings of self-doubt and self-worth. Does it feel like you are always less than enough? These feelings–long-term–are another possible symptom of chronic loneliness.
• When you try to connect or reach out, it’s not reciprocated, and you’re not seen or heard.
• Exhaustion and burn out when trying to engage socially. If you’re dealing with chronic loneliness, trying to engage and be social with others can leave you feeling exhausted. Continued feelings of being drained can lead to other issues like sleep problems, a weakened immune system, poor diet, and more.

Can chronic loneliness lead to health problems?

Long-term feelings of loneliness can affect your health in many ways. For example, chronic loneliness can drive up cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone that your body creates when under stress. Over time, higher cortisol levels can lead to inflammation, excess weight gain, insulin resistance, problems concentrating, and more.²

If left unchecked, these chronic loneliness symptoms can put you at greater risk for more serious medical and emotional problems, including:³

• Depression
• Sleep disorders
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Mental health and emotional problems
• Substance use

There is even the possibility that chronic loneliness and the health risks that come with it, could shorten one’s lifespan.⁴

If you think you are suffering with long-term feelings of loneliness, talk to your doctor or a therapist.

What does chronic loneliness do to your brain?

Research shows that chronic loneliness can have a significant impact on your overall health, including your brain health. Some studies even suggest that there may be a link between loneliness and an increased risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s. ⁵

Long term feelings of loneliness and social isolation can also reduce cognitive skills⁶, such as the ability to concentrate, make decisions, problem-solve, and even change negative self-beliefs. And it can ultimately lead to depression.⁷

Who’s most at risk for chronic loneliness?

Chronic, or long-term, loneliness can afflict all types of people. It’s easy to assume that someone who’s naturally shy and introverted might be most at risk, but outgoing, Type A, personalities can also suffer from chronic loneliness, even though they may appear to be the life of the party. This type of loneliness is not exclusive to any one personality type.

For some people chronic loneliness may become a side effect of a medical or emotional problem, including those dealing with the following issues:

• Substance use
• Depression and bipolar disorder
• Serious illness or disease
• Some mild forms of autism, such as Asperger’s Syndrome
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s
• Sexual orientation issues

All of these issues could also lead to long-term feelings of loneliness and isolation. Make sure your doctor, therapist, or other medical provider knows how you’re feeling emotionally.

What are some tips for dealing with chronic loneliness?

If you are dealing with feelings of loneliness that just don’t go away, consider these tips:

• Talk to your doctor, a therapist, or another health care professional. Chronic loneliness isn’t limited to feelings of social isolation and alienation from others. It is often tied to ongoing and deeply rooted negative beliefs about yourself that can eventually lead to other medical and emotional problems. Let someone know what’s going on.
• Engage with other people in a positive, healthy way. Even though it may be difficult, try making the effort to connect with others. Volunteering, hobby clubs, workout groups, and other opportunities, can help boost self-esteem and provide a safe and satisfying way to connect with others.
• Get some exercise and sunlight. Getting active and out in the sunshine can help elevate endorphins and serotonin. ^{8, 9} These “brain hormones” can boost mood, help improve sleep, and make people feel happier.
• Find a support group, especially if chronic loneliness is a side effect of some other issue you might be dealing with, such as substance use, loss of a loved one, loneliness from a divorce or break up, a chronic and isolating illness, etc. Receiving support and encouragement from others who may share similar feelings, could help ease symptoms of chronic loneliness.

If you are dealing with long term loneliness, the kind that doesn’t go away, talk to your doctor or another health care provider so they can help. Chronic loneliness is not just about feeling alone; if left unchecked it can put you at risk for serious physical and emotional issues.

Loneliness Is a Public Health Problem: This Low-Tech Intervention Can Help

Loneliness is not just a feeling; it is also a public health problem that has been linked to increased risk of mental health issues, heart disease and even death. With rates of loneliness on the rise in the U. S. and around the world, people are addressing this crisis using everything from companion robots to social networking sites and apps. A new study in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that a better solution may lie in a much older, more ubiquitous form of technology: phone calls.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced people into isolation, separating them from friends, co-workers and loved ones, experts were beginning to consider loneliness an epidemic—one affecting an estimated three out of five Americans. A study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), published last year, recognizes the health risks social isolation and loneliness present—and the limited interventions available to address them.

“There is a lot of variability in terms of the types of interventions, the level of evidence to support them and the rigor of evidence,” says Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, who was a member of the NASEM committee that published the report. Some potential solutions, such as grassroots-based pen-pal programs for socially isolated adults, sound promising based on anecdotal evidence, but researchers have not adequately studied them. Other experiments are still ongoing: Holt-Lunstad, in collaboration with the social-networking service Nextdoor and researchers in the U.K. and Australia, conducted a study (currently being prepared for publication) that suggests that performing small acts of kindness for neighbors reduced the likelihood of feeling lonely and socially isolated.

Now a new paper published in JAMA Psychiatry shows that a program of phone calls focused on empathetic conversation can help. Over the course of four weeks, the experiment saw an overall reduction in symptoms of loneliness, depression and anxiety in at-risk adults aged 27 to 101. “It makes sense,” says Linda Fried, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, who was not involved in the study. “In an emergency time like the pandemic, phone calls can make a big difference in allaying feelings of fright and anxiety. ”

“A lot of care went into designing the protocol so that it was all about the person at the other end,” says Maninder Kahlon, lead author of the study and executive director of Factor Health, an organization for developing health care programs at the University of Texas at Austin. For example, the experiment customized each person’s program depending on how frequently they wanted to receive calls—from two to five times per week—and the best time of day for them to talk.

The researchers also considered how to make the phone conversations more empathetic. Steven Tomlinson, co-author of the study and an associate professor of leadership and administration at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Tex., drew on his experiences reviewing successful sales calls to identify which variables could be applied to the intervention to help callers connect with other people. These characteristics included asking open questions, making one point at a time to allow the call receiver to talk and following up on “clues” in the conversation to demonstrate understanding. Instead of writing a script, the researchers trained 16 callers, aged 17 to 23, in these techniques and instructed them to discuss any topic the call receiver wanted to talk about, such as an ongoing home-improvement project. “It’s not just calling up on people to check in,” Kahlon says. “It’s the deliberate thinking about how you build trust.”

Although it remains unclear if the effects last beyond the four-week study period, the researchers hope the study serves as a model for an ongoing program. If health care systems and public health agencies start building a workforce of empathetic callers, it could do more than alleviate loneliness, Kahlon suggests. Similar programs might help people with mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety and complement patients’ management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

A phone-based intervention involving layperson callers would be accessible and scalable, but it would still require callers to undergo training and take on a lot of work. “It’s important that [the intervention] is simple and intuitive,” Kahlon says, but “simple does not mean easy.” Holt-Lunstad, who was not involved in the new study, also points out that loneliness has different sources and thus may need varying solutions. “One approach may not be appropriate for all, particularly if it’s not sensitive to the underlying causes,” Holt-Lunstad says. “Getting a phone call may work for one person, but participating in a group activity may be better for others.”

 

COVID has emphasized the need to address growing feelings of loneliness and isolation. For instance, Japan recently appointed a minister of loneliness in the wake of increasing rates of suicide in the country; the U.K. created a similar official position in 2018. “It may take some time to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic [on loneliness and social isolation],” Holt-Lunstad says. “One of the key takeaways from this past year is there is greater awareness of how important social connection is for our well-being. ”

IF YOU NEED HELP
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), use the online Lifeline Chat or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

What are the Health Effects of Loneliness?

Loneliness is a subjective feeling associated with a lack of social interactions in combination with several internal factors relating to personality. Increasingly, loneliness is becoming viewed as a risk factor for several major negative health outcomes.

Image Credit: Jorm S/Shutterstock.com

Social isolation and loneliness are both sources of chronic stress and hypervigilance that lead to reduced sleep quality, physiological changes in cardiovascular health, impaired immune function, neuroendocrine effects, and elevated cortisol levels.

Alongside physiological ill-health, loneliness is associated with cognitive decline, depression, and premature mortality

What is loneliness?

Although loneliness, in combination with social isolation, has been associated with ill-health, determining causality is difficult as studies are observational. Biological pathways have been suggested as an explanation for the effect of loneliness on the body.

These include levels of protective hormones which lead to adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, downregulation of the immune system, and dysregulation of the neuroendocrine system because of lack or poor quality of sleep.

Moreover, loneliness increases the likelihood of individuals initiating harmful health behaviors such as excess alcohol consumption, overeating, smoking, and casual sexual activity as a form of psychological relief. Loneliness is a subjective emotion that results from social isolation, or because of a lack of trust and connection with those around them.

Loneliness, inflammation, and stress

Loneliness has been associated with biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin-6, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein). Chronic inflammation is implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions which are associated with premature mortality.

Alongside hormonal effects, psychological stresses can trigger the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) access, and chronic activation of these systems can exert wear-and-tear effects on the cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic systems.

Although loneliness is associated with systemic inflammation and wear-and-tear effect in the nervous system, the direction of causality has not been determined.

Loneliness as a mortality risk factor

Loneliness significantly increases the risk of premature death from all causes and is thought to rival the risk post by smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. The overall odds of mortality due to loneliness are 1.5, which is comparable to light smoking (15 cigarettes/day) exceeds the risks posed by obesity on type attention.

These figures have been derived from an analysis of 148 studies across 300 and 8849 individuals over 7.5 years and demonstrated that the effect of loneliness was independent of other risk factors.

Loneliness as a cardiovascular risk factor

A recent systematic review followed by a meta-analysis of 16 longitudinal regional studies demonstrated that the risk of coronary heart disease is approximately 29%, and stroke 32%.

This association is comparable to anxiety and job stresses which are also considered risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease. This finding corroborates a body of existing evidence that demonstrates that loneliness is predictive of low morbidity and mortality.

With regards to other cardiovascular conditions, loneliness has been shown to increase systolic blood pressure; this effect can be harmful in older individuals when arterial stiffness increases with age. This is termed total peripheral resistance and is the main cause of elevated systolic blood pressure and individuals up to 40 years old.

An increase in blood pressure can lead to premature arterial stiffening and further increasing the risk of systemic blood pressure increase. As a result, lonely individuals can develop structural changes in arteries that promote the deposition of collagen and decreased elasticity of vessels.

The molecular pathways affected by loneliness

There have been several proposed mechanisms of loneliness associated with cardiovascular disease. Loneliness activates the HPA access and the sympathetic nervous system. This subsequently leads to a change in behavior which includes physical inactivity and sleep deprivation.

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system enhances a process termed monocytopenia in the bone marrow which causes an expansion in pro-inflammatory white blood cells. The sympathetic nervous system also stimulates the movement of monocytes from the spleen.

Over time, social stress can lead to resistance to glucocorticoids, regulation of proinflammatory gene expression, and increased cytokine production by immune cells. Glucocorticoids are hormones that govern several physiological functions. They are involved in suppressing inflammatory, allergic, and immune disorders as well as altering blood glucose and lipolysis.

These effects serve to modulate immune function to prevent overreaction and damage to the tissue under stress. Resistance to glucocorticoids subsequently results in inflammation, muscle atrophy, central adiposity, hepatic steatosis, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, hypertension, depression, and insomnia.

Cytokines can also exacerbate glucocorticoid resistance. This resulting increase in inflammation and oxidative stress may be involved in the development of atherosclerotic plaques and increased blood pressure.

The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine from the brain and adrenal gland can also induce vasoconstriction which is also enhanced by glucocorticoid resistance. Further, glucocorticoid resistance can also reduce the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, which results in decreased production of nitric oxide. This subsequently impairs vasodilation.

This further contributes to increased blood pressure. Although these pathways are implicated in the physiological changes in the body, the causal role of these mechanisms has not been demonstrated.

Understanding the association and causal pathways between loneliness and ill-health is necessary so that strategies and interventions to combat loneliness can be developed.

References:

• Malcolm M, Frost H, Cowie J. Loneliness and social isolation causal association with health-related lifestyle risk in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Syst Rev. 2019;8(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s13643-019-0968-x.
• Xia N, Li H. Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Cardiovascular Health. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018;28(9):837-851. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7312
• Steptoe A, et al. Social isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(15):5797-801. doi: 10. 1073/pnas.1219686110.
• Leigh-Hunt N, et al. An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness. Public Health. 2017;152:157-171. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2017.07.035.
• Barnes TL, et al. Cumulative effect of loneliness and social isolation on health outcomes among older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2021:1-8. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1940096.
• Valtorta NK, et al. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart. 2016;102(13):1009-1016. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308790.
• Heinrich LM, Gullone E. The clinical significance of loneliness: a literature review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2006;26(6):695–718.

Further Reading

What Happens in Your Body When You’re Lonely? – Cleveland Clinic

Ah, look at all the lonely people. There’s more of us than ever before despite so many convenient ways to connect, including texting, Facebook and other social media sites.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

“Loneliness is an epidemic,” says psychologist Amy Sullivan, PsyD. “We’re the most socially connected society, yet so many people experience extreme loneliness.”

The problem of loneliness has a surprising impact; it can drill into both mental and physical health, she says.

How does loneliness hurt?

Feeling lonely is an unpleasant experience that can also have long-term health consequences.

“We know clearly that sitting, smoking and obesity are linked to chronic disease,” Dr. Sullivan says. “But I think of loneliness as another risk factor for chronic health conditions.”

Dr. Sullivan points out that loneliness isn’t the same thing as social isolation. It’s more about how you perceive your level of connectedness to others.

“Someone who’s socially isolated and doesn’t have a lot of social contacts may not feel lonely at all, but someone else may feel lonely even when they’re surrounded by lots of people,” she says.

What happens to your body when you’re lonely?

“When you’re experiencing loneliness, your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, go up,” she says. “Cortisol can impair cognitive performance, compromise the immune system, and increase your risk for vascular problems, inflammation and heart disease.”

Loneliness is also a risk factor for more serious mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

Dr. Sullivan suggests the following to turn loneliness around:

• Become more aware of your feelings. It’s normal to feel lonely occasionally, but if you’re noticing that you feel lonely more often than not, it’s time to take action.
• Understand the health impacts. Many people who take care of their health by eating well and exercising ignore this important aspect of wellness. But social connection is just as important as following a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.
• Work for greater social connection. Some examples? Plan to spend time with a friend instead of catching up via text. Even opting for a phone conversation over an email can help you feel more connected. Small daily decisions can also help. Make a point of walking down the hall to speak to a coworker instead of sending an instant message or email.
• Do small favors for people or random acts of kindness. “Those kinds of things are really powerful and help to improve your connection,” says Dr. Sullivan. Also, as you give to others, it also takes your mind off yourself.
• Take a social media break. “What we find is that when people pull back from social media, they become much more intentional in seeking out real relationships,” she says.
• Focus on quality, not quantity. A coffee date with a friend with whom you have an authentic connection will do more to quell your loneliness than having thousands of Facebook friends or Instagram followers.
• Seek out a professional counselor if you need one. Feeling lonely is sometimes a symptom of depression. A therapist can help you work through this and develop strategies for reconnecting with others.

Sometimes loneliness becomes a difficult rut to get out of. It may mean pushing yourself out of your comfort zone a bit.

“I think it can be scary for people to reach out,” says Dr. Sullivan. “If you put yourself out there then there’s a risk of rejection. But in the end, the payoff is much greater than the risk.”

90,000 11 proofs that prolonged loneliness is dangerous to health / AdMe

We all need solitude sometimes to collect our thoughts and take a break from those around us. However, prolonged loneliness is not only unpleasant – it is dangerous to health. Sarah Shurd, a young woman who spent over a year in solitary confinement, shared her frightening experience in an interview and how the isolation affected her psyche.

Scientists around the world have been studying loneliness for many years. It works for everyone in different ways, but there are common problems for most people who have had to spend a long time in isolation.

Bright Side will share with you the opinion of scientists: why is it still dangerous to be alone and what to do to avoid it.

11. Harm to physical health

Scientists have long found out that prolonged isolation harms human health not only at the level of the psyche, but also physically. In particular, single people tend to have low immunity, high blood pressure, and an increased chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia.

Scientists associate this effect of isolation with our distant ancestors, for whom separation from the general group was a serious danger. And, although the dangers of the Stone Age are left behind, our body still reacts badly to loneliness.

10. Mental instability

In 2008 Ian Robbins conducted an experiment. He locked several volunteers in secluded cells without sound for 48 hours. The result manifested itself rather quickly: the first symptoms were anxiety, excessive emotionality, and everything ended up with incoherent thoughts and even hallucinations.

9. Hallucinations

Participants in the same experiment observed all sorts of hallucinations: from luminous points in space to squirrels marching with bags over their shoulders. Most of the hallucinations were visual, but there were auditory and even tactile ones, for example, one of the participants in the experiment claimed that he had been shot from a gun.

The reasons for this are not fully understood, but scientists have a theory. The brain suffers from a lack of information coming from outside.However, the nervous system continues to send signals to the brain, albeit false ones. The brain, in turn, tries to create a holistic picture from false signals, to which our psyche is so striving. The result is hallucinations.

So, Sarah Shurd said: “For several days I distinctly heard footsteps along the corridor, although there was no one there. With peripheral vision, I began to notice small lights, but they disappeared as soon as I turned my head. One day I heard an eerie scream that lasted forever, and then I felt that one of the guards was trying to revive me.Then I realized that it was my cry. ”

8. Increased risk of suicide

This may seem obvious, but as the degree of loneliness increases, so does the risk of suicide. It doesn’t matter if a person suffers isolation due to external reasons or due to personal problems: ideas of suicide are much more common among lonely people.

This prompted scientists to view loneliness as a problem, as a disease that can and should be treated, especially if a person withdraws into himself, while living in a metropolis.

7. Increased risk of depression

Studies have shown that lonely people for the most part feel less happy and satisfied, they are prone to pessimism and helplessness.

Perhaps this is due to the fact that loneliness in itself contributes to a decrease in self-esteem, ability to work and the ability to solve their problems. In addition, being in isolation for a long time, a person loses social skills, it becomes more difficult for him to maintain relationships with others.

6. Increased tendency to alcoholism

Loneliness is unanimously recognized by scientists as a factor contributing to the development of alcoholism. In addition, it is also a supportive factor, that is, it is more difficult for a lonely person to resist a bad habit.

At each stage of alcoholism, the less social connections a person has, the more difficult it is. This is due to the lack of necessary support and strong pressure from society.

5.

Reduced immunity

Scientists have found that loneliness violates immunity at the cellular level.The reasons for this are not known for certain, but the fact remains that single people are more at risk of getting sick than socially active people. Perhaps this is due to the general level of stress, which increases in conditions of social isolation.

4. Personality disorders

At the moment this is only a theory, but still. Some scholars have suggested that the inability (or inability) to meet basic emotional needs plays a critical role in the development of schizoid personality disorder.

The impossibility of normal communication leads to a high level of emotions, the very scheme of social behavior is disrupted, and as a result, the personality disorder progresses.

Of course, loneliness cannot be the only cause of all serious mental disorders. However, it greatly aggravates the symptoms and promotes the progression of the disease.

3. Bad sleep

Loneliness leads to poor sleep, scientists say. Further consequences are low energy levels during the day, a feeling of constant fatigue.

And it is not the duration of the rest that suffers, but its quality. Scientists have linked loneliness with poor sleep quality, namely, with micro-awakenings, which a person does not notice, but which ultimately strongly affect self-awareness and productivity.

2. Negative impact on others

One of the interesting studies proved that loneliness can be contagious. If you have someone who suffers from loneliness next to you, your chance of feeling lonely increases by an average of 52%.It sounds paradoxical, but this is so, because the feeling of loneliness also occurs in people living in large cities and leading an outwardly rather active social life.

1. Increased mortality

Loneliness can pose a serious health risk. Studies of people in social isolation have led scientists to the conclusion that such people are almost 2 times more likely to die prematurely.

The increased risk of dying from loneliness is comparable to the death rate from smoking.And loneliness is almost 2 times more deadly than obesity.

Social isolation impairs the functioning of the immune system, increases the risk of inflammation, which leads to arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.

Loneliness has doubled in recent decades, with 40% of those surveyed saying they are single, up from 20% in the 1980s.

Consequences of prolonged loneliness

Sarah Shurd, who spent over a year in solitary confinement, is now undergoing psychotherapy.Her interview brought public attention to the issue of solitary confinement. Now it is allowed almost all over the world, despite the fact that the girl herself equates it with physical torture. Sarah says: “You don’t have to hit someone to hurt him. Solitary confinement will leave no trace, but the consequences are serious and lasting. Immediately after my release, I could not even talk to people, I could not look them in the eyes, I wanted to run away from society. And now I am haunted by insomnia and nightmares.I believe that long-term solitary confinement is a cruel punishment that should amount to torture. And I demand that this inhuman practice be stopped all over the world. ”

Tips for avoiding loneliness

Loneliness can be overcome. Of course, if you find yourself in physical isolation, it will require much more of your strength – for example, people who have spent many months in solitary confinement tend to save themselves by exercising their brains. One female mathematician, imprisoned for months, solved equations in her head, completed math problems, taught imaginary lessons.

However, in practice, the loneliness of the “big city” is much more dangerous for us, but it is also easier to overcome it.

• Be prepared for a conscious effort on your part. They are worth it because you will be happier and healthier in the end.
• Admit the problem. You can hang out with dozens of people, but loneliness is more often an internal problem.
• Track all negative manifestations of loneliness. This will help to gather strength to fight.
• Think about what you like best about human society.This will be the first step in building or rebuilding social bonds.
• Take the time and energy to develop relationships with people you like and understand. Remember that relationships take effort, just like all the good things in our life.
• Be optimistic. This attracts others and allows you to look at your problems in a completely different way. Ultimately, you already have all the tools at your fingertips to overcome loneliness. Better yet, not letting it develop.

How loneliness affects the body

Steve Cole

Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. Engaged in genome research and computational bioinformatics. One of the founders of social genomics.

Being alone and feeling lonely are not the same thing at all. Loneliness is the feeling that we have fewer meaningful social connections than we would like.Of course, everything is individual. For someone, for a comfortable existence, it is enough to have one close person, for others, ten is not enough. However, scientists note that lately more and more people feel lonely ^.

Research has shown that loneliness is associated with high blood pressure ^{and heart problems . It turns out that loneliness breaks our hearts in a completely literal sense of the word.}

In addition, a 2015 meta-analysis of 70 studies showed that loneliness increases the risk of probable death by 26% ^{.And, for example, depression and anxiety disorder only increase the risk of death by 21%.}

Loneliness is much more than heartache. It is a biological wound that causes the destruction of cells in the body.

Steve Cole

How loneliness affects the cellular level

In 2007, Cole, along with other scientists from the University of California, made an interesting discovery. It turned out that the cells of those who suffer from chronic loneliness look different.Scientists have noticed two major genetic differences between lonely and non-lonely people.

1. In lonely people, the genes responsible for the body’s inflammatory response are much more active. And this is pretty dangerous. Yes, inflammation is necessary for the body to cope with the trauma. But if inflammation occurs constantly, it creates an excellent environment for the development of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and metastatic cancer.“This is one of the reasons why single people are more susceptible to these diseases,” says Cole.
2. At the same time, the activity of a group of genes responsible for the fight against viral infections is suppressed. These genes are responsible for the production of special proteins – interferons of the first type, which prevent the multiplication of viruses in the body.

An increase in the inflammatory response during stress makes sense. But why doesn’t the body want to fight viruses?

According to Cole, this is a biological compromise.The body usually fights bacteria through inflammation. But the typical response to viruses creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, the body makes a choice which of the two reactions to activate.

Overall, Cole believes that the response to chronic loneliness is not very different from the response to other sources of chronic stress such as low socioeconomic status or PTSD.

Cole’s findings, supported by other researchers ^{, indicate that single people are more susceptible to chronic illness and cope worse with illness.This, in part, explains the increased mortality among the single.}

Of course, this is not the only reason. Naturally, life is easier when there is someone who can take you to the doctor or support you in a difficult situation.

Loneliness is a vicious circle. The more isolated we feel, the more we feel threatened. And the more it seems to us that something is threatening us, the more we strive for isolation.

How to prevent the effects of loneliness

According to some studies, cellular symptoms decrease when the feeling of loneliness passes ^{.However, Cole believes that there is still insufficient evidence that trying to make people less lonely is actually helping.}

Attempts to return the meaning of life to people are more effective. For example, a Los Angeles-based charity brings together single seniors and elementary school students. Seniors help and supervise schoolchildren with their lessons, which gives them a purpose and helps them feel healthier.

Of course, the body needs stress from time to time.And loneliness is necessary for us. Periods of loneliness throughout life are completely natural.

But, according to Cole, loneliness is now turning into an epidemic that must be fought. Indeed, it is even more dangerous for health than anxiety and depression, which we usually fear.

Five myths about loneliness: is it really that bad?

• Claudia Hammond
• BBC Future

February 24, 2018

Photo author, Getty Images

Loneliness is often called the main problem of modern man – they say that in the world it has already turned into a real epidemic.But is it true that things are getting worse?

At some point in life, each of us feels lonely. For society, this can grow into a real problem, and in some places it has already grown: for example, a new minister has appeared in the British government – for problems of loneliness.

Loneliness is a serious thing, it causes a lot of troubles, but at the same time it is surrounded by many myths. Here are five of the most common.

1) Loneliness is isolation from society

Loneliness is not the same as being alone.Loneliness is a disconnection from the outside world, a feeling that no one around you understands you, and you have no real, meaningful relationships with people.

Insulation can play a role, but it is far from the only one. You can feel lonely in a crowd – and, conversely, you can be absolutely happy when no one is around. (When the BBC did a study on how people relax, it found that the five most popular recreational activities are associated with loneliness – not in the sense of feeling, but when the person is alone.).

Sometimes you even want to be alone. However, if you do not have the opportunity to spend time with people who understand you, then loneliness falls on you.

2) An epidemic of loneliness is raging in the world now

The problem of loneliness, of course, has received more attention, but it does not follow from this that the percentage of single people has increased compared to past years or decades.

Using data from studies dating back to 1948, Christina Victor of Brunel University in London found that the proportion of older people experiencing chronic loneliness has remained the same over the past 70 years (6 to 13% admitted that they always felt lonely, or most part of time).

But it is also true that there are more and more lonely people – simply because the population of our planet is increasing all the time. And the more there are lonely people in the world, the more sadness.

3) Loneliness is always bad

People suffer from loneliness. However, the good news is that often such a state is only temporary and by no means always negative. It can signal to us that it’s time to make new friends or try to find a way to improve existing relationships.

Photo by Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

Photo caption,

Do older people really suffer from loneliness more than others?

Neurologist John Cacioppo believes that the ability to feel lonely has gradually developed in humans so that we want to maintain relationships with others.

He compares it to thirst. When you are thirsty, you are looking for water. When you are single, you are looking for the company of other people.

For millennia, people have survived in communities, in cooperation and mutual assistance.So the survival mechanism pushes us towards social connections.

Although loneliness is usually a temporary condition, it is true that when it becomes chronic, the consequences can be dire.

There is evidence that it affects our sense of well-being, can impair sleep, and lead to discouragement.

This feeling can lead you into a vicious circle: the more lonely a person feels, the more he shuns society, which in turn makes him even more lonely.

Studies show that if a person feels lonely, the risk increases that they may experience symptoms of depression a year later.

4) Loneliness leads to health problems

This myth is a little more complicated. You may have come across statistics according to which loneliness has a detrimental effect on health: the risk of heart disease and strokes almost triples, single people have higher blood pressure and lower life expectancy.

Photo by Stephen Pond / Getty Images for Sport England

Photo caption,

For the first time in history: UK Loneliness Minister Tracy Crouch

This is pretty serious, but many of these studies only take a short time span, and we we cannot speak with confidence about the inevitable onset of the grave consequences of loneliness.

Yes, it is possible that people who have dropped out of society are more likely to get sick. But the opposite may also be true: a person finds himself in a situation of isolation due to an illness that does not allow him to communicate with others.

Alternatively, lonely people may be counted as less healthy because loneliness deprives them of the incentive to lead a healthy lifestyle.

5) Most older people suffer from loneliness

People experience loneliness in old age more often than in other periods of their adult life. But as Pamela Qualter of the University of Manchester found out in her review of scientific studies of loneliness at different ages, there is another peak of this condition – during adulthood, during adolescence.

Meanwhile, studies show that 50-60% of older people rarely experience loneliness.

Photo by Getty Images

Photo caption,

Although loneliness is usually a temporary condition, the consequences can be dire if it becomes chronic

We still don’t know much about loneliness. The BBC has decided to help scientists and is conducting an online survey, the questions of which were developed by psychologists from the universities of Manchester, Exeter and Brunel in collaboration with the Wellcome Collection (London’s museum dedicated to the links between medicine, life and the arts.- Approx. translator ).

The survey is open to people from every corner of the planet – it doesn’t matter if you are old or young, feel lonely or not. His goal is to understand more about friendship, trust and learn about the remedies for loneliness that really help.

Legal information. This article is for general information only and should not be construed as a substitute for the advice of a physician or other healthcare professional. The BBC is not responsible for any diagnosis made by the reader based on the materials of the site.The BBC is not responsible for the content of other sites, links to which are present on this page, and also does not recommend commercial products or services mentioned on these sites. If you are concerned about your health condition, see your doctor.

Read the original of this article in English fashionable at BBC Future .

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The Silent Assassin: How Loneliness Destroys People

Living alone in the same place can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease. This is the conclusion of a group of scientists from around the world who published an article in the journal Heart of the British Society for Cardiovascular Disorders.What else is loneliness fraught with and how they struggle with it in the world – in the material of the MIR 24 TV channel.

Doomed to have a heart attack

Medical indicators of about 470 thousand people were used in the study. Experts have found that voluntary or forced isolation from society increases the risk of death from heart attacks and strokes by 32%.

“Social isolation and a feeling of loneliness, a sense of uselessness pose a direct threat to the emergence of such serious disorders of the cardiovascular system as myocardial infarction, strokes,” the article says.

Loneliness, according to doctors, is often characteristic of poor people. The researchers urged the government to work towards improving the living standards of people, which in the long term will reduce the death rate from cardiovascular diseases.

Other complications

Long before British colleagues, staff at Brigham Young University (Utah, USA) also concluded that lonely people are susceptible to a number of diseases. In particular, they have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression and mental impairment.The reason is the “stress hormone” – cortisol, which is responsible for a person’s mood. The stress caused by loneliness also seriously affects the adrenal glands and the endocrine system, altering the body’s biochemical processes. Stressful, depressive states are directly related to the cardiovascular system.

A side effect of cortisol is that the body’s immune response to bacteria is slowed down, making the person sick more often. In particular, lonely people have been shown to be more likely to tolerate colds.Another immediate danger is diabetes. Its development is due to the fact that single people pay less attention to their diet.

All these factors have a serious impact on the central nervous system, scientists say. So, in 2016, scientists from the University of Massachusetts announced the presence in the back of the brain of a whole cluster of cells responsible for regulating feelings of loneliness. They are activated in the absence of communication with congeners, and reduce activity in isolation from other people.

Social isolation has a negative impact on human mental health. For most people, loneliness led to an increase in egocentrism (the inability or unwillingness of a person to consider a point of view other than his own; considers only his own opinion to be correct). At the same time, there is also a feedback: the more egocentric a person was, the more he developed a sense of loneliness. Feelings of anxiety also often cause sleep disturbances in lonely people.

The main danger of loneliness is senile dementia.Among its causes, scientists often name stress and disruption of hormonal processes that are characteristic of single people, especially the elderly, but this does not mean that other age groups are not threatened with isolation.

Men at risk

Men are more likely to be at risk. More often than not, the stronger sex does not follow their diet too much, as a result of which men eat more “harmful foods”. Eating all alone develops stress in men, which amplifies the negative effects of such a diet.A South Korean study found that men had a 45% higher risk of obesity and a 64% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure and high cholesterol. All these symptoms in the long run lead to diabetes and other diseases.

… women

Scientists believe that many women are doomed to loneliness. Some of them strive to make a career and are not ready to burden themselves with a spouse. Another part, on the contrary, considers men to be insensitive, and themselves, on the contrary, too emotional.This mismatch of feelings often leads to a breakup or becomes the reason that women, in principle, do not start a relationship.

In general, the weaker sex tolerates social isolation much better. According to statistics provided by the agency Mintel , 61% of women who do not have a partner are satisfied with their personal life, while among the men surveyed the indicator is 49%.

… and animals

The feeling of loneliness is experienced not only by people, but also by many animals.In particular, lonely male killer whales die more often than their social counterparts. The effect is due to the fact that in small groups, killer whales have the opportunity to hunt together and share food, as well as information about its location. Scientists associate the greater sensitivity of males to hunger with their increased energy consumption: for survival, male killer whales, on average, need 25% more food than females.

In February, the loneliest bird in the world, Nigel, the gannet, died on the uninhabited island of Mana in New Zealand.He lived for several years surrounded by 80 concrete gannets with built-in speakers to attract birds. No one but Nigel bought this bait, so the bird died all alone.

But there are pluses

Despite such dire consequences, loneliness for many people is not a problem, but rather an advantage. Not being burdened by family or children helps people build careers as well as maintain relationships with old friends.In addition, people who have abandoned relationships eat less, which means they are less likely to suffer from obesity, doctors say.

Social phobia and a long stay in loneliness increases resistance to alcohol. To prove this, scientists from the University of Maryland conducted an experiment on cancers. Individuals, which usually kept themselves apart from others, got drunk more slowly than their active relatives.

What to do

Loneliness is often exacerbated during holidays that people traditionally spend with family, friends, or loved ones.This feeling is especially exacerbated on Valentine’s Day, psychologists advise singles not to despair, but to spend this holiday in an interesting place. To find a match for yourself, experts recommend fast dating sites. When there is no reason to meet with a stranger, but it is necessary to pour out your soul, you can hire an interlocutor for money. Such a service has recently appeared in Russia

If a person experiences difficulties in communicating with people, animals can come to the rescue. The benefits of cats and dogs for single people (as well as others under stress) have long been proven.Many psychologists recommend getting a pet (in the USA they even developed a robot cat for single people), and one of the Belgian hotels near the airport in Brussels offers its guests who travel alone to rent a goldfish in an aquarium for the duration of their stay.

The most effective way to overcome the stress of loneliness is to find something to do. Retirees are often at risk – they often lose a life partner, and contacts with children and other relatives cease.The Moscow authorities have recently provided the opportunity to engage in an interesting hobby for elderly citizens. Retirees participating in the Active Longevity program learn dance, painting and foreign languages.

Scientists differ on whether it is possible to completely overcome loneliness in the modern world. Some experts do not exclude that the person of the future will be alone. They are led to this idea by the desire of modern people for independence not only from persons of the opposite sex (this primarily concerns women), as well as the dependence of many people on social networks, which they replace real communication.Because of these tendencies, society began to perceive loneliness as a sign of a person’s development and independence, and gradually it becomes the norm. In addition, many people can be genetically predisposed to loneliness – according to American scientists, up to 27% of the risk of a tendency to loneliness in people may be of genetic origin.

Solving the problems of lonely people is best centralized, doctors say. For this, a ministry of loneliness was created in the UK. The tasks of the department will include taking care of such people.The idea of ​​creating such a ministry was later put forward by the chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, but so far this initiative has remained in words.

90,000 Alone and not being treated – Weekly “Kommersant” – Kommersant

If you collect all single Russians in an imaginary city, the population of this city will be comparable to that of Moscow. Scientists say loneliness is a hereditary, contagious, deadly disease.And besides, it inflicts huge losses on the economy. But the world has not yet figured out how to deal with the problem.

ALEXEY ALEXEEV

Millions units

“The kingdom of the lonely – we live next to it.
The kingdom of the lonely – think about it “

(The Beatles, “Eleanor Rigby”, translated by Evgeny Galtsov)

Loneliness is a global phenomenon. Almost half of Swedish households are single and childless adults. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), among Americans over the age of 45, 42.6 million people are chronically single.

In Japan, according to the latest estimates, there are 541 thousand hikikomori. This is the name given to people who have cut off all social ties and have been living in complete self-isolation for more than six months (and every third of them has been living for more than seven years).

In the UK, estimates of the number of single people differ dramatically: according to the Joe Cox Commission, it is about 9 million people, that is, more than the population of London; Age UK estimates 1.1 million

The annual damage to British employers from the consequences of this problem is estimated at £ 2.5 billion per year.In Great Britain, everything was taken so seriously that since January there has been a “minister of loneliness” in the country.

In Russia, the idea of ​​the chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko to create a “ministry of loneliness” has remained just an idea. But this does not mean that there are no lonely people in our country and there is no problem of loneliness.

True, a poll conducted by VTsIOM in February this year showed that only 7% of Russians feel lonely. Thus, 93% of our fellow citizens do not feel alone.

But minors did not take part in the survey, although it is in adolescence that loneliness is felt especially acutely, it is hard experienced, it becomes the cause of tragedies. Teenagers from different countries are equal before loneliness. This is evidenced by data from the 2003 Social and Health Assessment (SAHA) survey, in which young men and women from Russia and the United States took part. In both countries, there were more single girls than single boys. In the age group from 13 to 15 years among girls, women in the United States suffered a little more from loneliness – 14.7% (in Russia – 14.4%).In Russia, there were more lonely boys – 8.9% (in the USA – 6.7%).

Let’s convert the percentages into more descriptive figures. According to Rosstat data for 2017, 146.8 million people live in Russia. Of these, 119.9 million are people of working age and older; 10-14-year-old Russians – 7.4 million people. If we accept VTsIOM’s data for adults, and SAHA for minors, we get the following result: in Russia there are 10.3 million single adults and about 900 thousandsingle teenagers. A total of 11.2 million people, that is, there are slightly fewer singles in our country than Muscovites. And this is by the most conservative estimate. And, of course, adjusted for the sample: were the number of respondents included old people from nursing homes who had been in the war, inhabitants of abandoned villages, and so on?

93% of Russians say that they do not feel lonely, while every sixth person surveyed by VTsIOM says that over the past five years, there are more single people in his city or village, and every fourth is sure: not just more, but noticeably more.That is, 41% of the respondents believe that there are more and more lonely people, and whoever you ask is not alone. Paradox?

VTsIOM analyst Ivan Lekomtsev on the center’s website commented on this contradiction in the following way: “What could it be connected with? For example, with the criteria by which we evaluate someone else’s loneliness. We judge whether a person is alone or not, according to the observed signs – whether there is someone next to him now. If we see that a person is alone and is not physically talking to anyone, but is looking at the phone, we often put him in the “lonely” category.And we are grossly mistaken. The “lonely” person we met can communicate via the Internet every hour with dozens of his friends, even those who are in other cities or on other continents. The Internet does not destroy “live communication”. The Internet helps when, for some reason, there is no such communication. This is the penultimate medicine for singles. The last is television. ”

The paradox, however, is not the only one. To the question of VTsIOM “What do you usually do if you feel lonely?” the most frequent answer is “I communicate with friends, relatives”.It was given by 44% of the respondents. But if a person has the opportunity of such communication, is he lonely?

“Films, books, computer games” (28% of respondents) and “hobbies, hobbies” (22%) were also named as popular means of fighting loneliness. Judging by the answers, people are struggling with loneliness, plunging headlong into work, playing sports, attending courses, trainings, playing with a pet, chatting on the Internet. And only 2% of the respondents admitted that they are looking for consolation in alcohol. Two percent of drinkers from seven percent of single – 0.0014%.In other words, only one out of 714 Russians chokes vodka out of loneliness. It’s hard to believe.

Along with the SAHA data, there is another estimate of the number of single adolescents. In November last year, experts from the All-Russian Popular Front conducted a monitoring by interviewing more than 1.3 thousand schoolchildren from 81 regions of Russia. 42% of those surveyed admitted that they feel lonely. A similar figure can be found among foreign researchers. What to believe?

The difficulty is that researchers use different definitions of loneliness, and people who answer the questions of sociologists also understand differently what it is.A teenager who has been going through a week of separation from his girlfriend and a conflict with his parents, and a disabled pensioner who suffers from loneliness for most of his life are not the same thing.

Feeling lonely often, most of my life, lately – these are different cases.

A city dweller living alone is not necessarily lonely, and if lonely, he does not necessarily suffer from it.

Christopher Swader, Associate Researcher of the Laboratory for Comparative Social Research (LCSR), National Research University Higher School of Economics, studied the causes and characteristics of loneliness in megacities, in particular in Moscow.And he came to the conclusion that not all residents of large cities social isolation causes a feeling of loneliness. It is in megalopolises that there is a layer of people professing “urban”, individualistic values. Career, money, creativity, self-development, self-expression are more important for these people than family, children, friends, belonging to any social group.

Deadly disease

“It’s better to be one-legged than to be lonely”

(N. Olev, A. Balagin, “About loneliness”, a song from the cartoon “Treasure Island”)

A lot of scientific studies, carried out mainly in the last few years, prove that chronic loneliness causes great harm to health.

Moreover, it is inherited. According to a study by Abraham Palmer, professor of psychiatry at the University of California, the intermittent feeling of loneliness throughout life is genetically determined in 14-27% of cases. It is often inherited along with personality traits such as emotional instability, anxiety, low self-esteem, and various depressive symptoms. But in most cases, the environment and circumstances are just as important.

Two people with the same number of friends and relatives often assess their lives differently: one may feel lonely, and the other may not. It is known, for example, that very rich people often feel lonely: it seems to them that those around them are attracted exclusively to wealth.

John Cacioppo, director of the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago, told The Guardian how loneliness can be contagious: “Let’s say we’re neighbors.For some reason, I began to feel lonely. Now I’m more likely to communicate with you more carefully: suddenly you stop communicating with me, making me even more painful. In three or four years, we will most likely stop being friends. Each of us will lose a loved one. ”

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, head of the British Royal College of General Practitioners, argues that loneliness is as damaging to health as a chronic disease such as diabetes or hypertension.

A group of scientists from Brigham Young University, led by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, analyzed existing scientific research to determine the effect of social isolation and loneliness on mortality. They summarized information from 70 studies that covered 3.4 million representatives from different countries of the world; the average age of the respondents was 66, and the observation period was seven years.

It was found that living alone increases the likelihood of earlier death by 32%, social isolation – by 29%, the feeling of loneliness – by 26%.

At the same time, the chances of a lonely person to die prematurely do not depend on his age, social status, income level. According to another study led by John Cacioppo, loneliness increases the risk of premature death in people over 50 by 14%, while obesity only increases it by 7%. In addition, people experience loneliness much more difficult than being overweight. According to Holt-Lunstad, loneliness is about as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Researchers from the University of York, led by Nicole Valtorta, have proven that loneliness and social isolation are risk factors when it comes to the development of coronary heart disease.

Louise Hawkley of the University of Chicago discovered a link between loneliness and hypertension. There are studies indicating that chronic loneliness contributes to the development of dementia, depression, and suicidal tendencies.

In search of a pill for loneliness

“Gena was sitting at the table and, as the chief ad specialist, wrote: THE HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP IS OPENING. EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO HAVE A FRIEND LET COME TO US “

(E. Uspensky. “Gena the Crocodile and His Friends”)

From the point of view of evolutionary theory, loneliness is like hunger or thirst.The body sends an alarm. A person must change their behavior in order to increase the chances of survival.

In the UK, judging by the appointment of Parliamentary Undersecretary for Sports and Civil Society Tracy Couch as the head of the government’s loneliness policy group, the so-called loneliness minister, a course has been taken to tackle the problem at the state level. Volunteers, campaigns, goals and their achievement, reporting, awarding leaders.

Many therapists offer help to people suffering from loneliness.The main Russian online free classifieds board Avito is full of ads of those who offer the services of “friend for an hour”, “interlocutor for an hour”, “drinking companion for an hour.” The same psychotherapy, only without special education (most often) and at a more attractive price.

Who will save from loneliness

The psychotherapist Ilya Rasskazov and professor at the Institute for the Study of Childhood, Family and Education of the Russian Academy of Education Ilya Slobodchikov answered Kommersant’s questions.

– Is it necessary to solve the problem of loneliness at the state level? Is there a need for a “ministry of loneliness”?

Photo: Photo from personal archive

Ilya Rasskazov: Perhaps the problem of loneliness is more state and social than psychological and individual. It is no accident that it arises precisely in developed countries, when a person begins to realize and accept his life as a value “for himself”.The World Health Organization has extended the “young age” to 44. At the same time, life becomes not only a means for procreation, the development of family values ​​or state ideologies, individual life becomes an end in itself. A person in developed countries today is comfortable living alone, living primarily for himself. This, of course, is a social and state problem, since in developed countries there are more and more elderly people every year, and fewer and fewer children are born, and this problem can be solved “from above” only by changing the social system.For example, in North Korea, the problem of loneliness at the state level is difficult to even imagine, and in the Soviet Union, “individualist” was a dirty word.

Photo: Photo from personal archive

Ilya Slobodchikov: When the state seriously begins to care about such a problem as the loneliness of its citizens, in my understanding, this speaks of the state’s attentiveness to what is happening not only at the “external level”, and that the problem has taken on a national character, well, or a state one.The question is not whether such an initiative is good or bad, the question is what this very ministry will do and how it will do it. No , the solution to the problem of loneliness, of course, is impossible by any “external” state initiatives, primarily because this problem is a whole complex of everything and different things, starting, say, with the consequences of loss, it does not matter whether it is a child’s loneliness caused by the breakdown of a family, or an old man who retained a clear mind and memory, but suffers from the gradual departure of all his peer friends… Yes – the initiative of the state, connected with the study of the problem of acute negative experience of loneliness and the search for ways to solve it, is remarkable and should be welcomed in every possible way.

– Is loneliness a disease? Can we talk about an epidemic of loneliness?

Ilya Rasskazov: There is no such disease in the International Classification of Diseases. Can selfishness or infantilism be considered a disease? Illness is suffering, someone suffers from loneliness, and someone rejoices in it, everything is individual.Perhaps more people suffer from living with an unloved person than from loneliness. However, the problem of domestic violence will concern the state much less, in our country even spanking is allowed.

Many people consciously choose loneliness and solitude. Especially when they take the path of spiritual development. Loneliness turns into suffering if it is “choice without choice.”

Indeed, the problem of loneliness can be solved very simply. What prevents a single adult from adopting adopted children and taking care of them all their life? What prevents a single adult from falling in love with another adult and caring for him all his life? Do egoism and infantilism, fear of responsibility or love of freedom, the value of your personal time and your own life interfere? Opinions differ here …

Ilya Slobodchikov: No.It is a common cliche and a deep misconception to regard loneliness as a disease, no matter in what context (disease as a clinical diagnosis or disease as a social disease). Loneliness in no context is not a disease, not a genetic pathology, not a virus or anything else of this nature, and it cannot be infected. Loneliness is a complex experience, an emotional complex, if you like, a complex emotion, initially “built in” into human nature, which has its own content, forms and manifestations at every stage of age development.Moreover, the experience of loneliness is the absolute norm. And not just a norm – a mandatory (albeit not too comfortable) condition for the maturation of a human personality. But! And here the most important thing begins – the whole question, in what quantity and in what form. There is loneliness – solitude, and this is peace, inner freedom and the opportunity to gather strength; there is loneliness – alienation – that very famous loneliness in the crowd, associated with the severance of “internal” ties, with the misunderstanding of others around you and the most acute experience of uselessness, abandonment, forgetfulness, abandonment.

Too much loneliness is scary. Here it is for you, the fear of loneliness – the fear of being alone – for anxious children, for example, at night (alone at night) or alone – in the sense of no one at all (very alone), this is almost an unbearable burden for a normal person, and, of course, this is one of the most serious problems of our time. Its forerunners are the swiftness of the flow of social time (a kaleidoscope of events), a shift in emphasis on materiality and a loss of genuine interest in each other, largely misunderstanding and ignorance of oneself, fear and unwillingness to invade the space of another, intolerance and, in the end, simply a change in values. paradigms.

All of the above are not new phenomena, the question is only in the “heightenedness” of perception. The “cubes” that make up this aggravation are well known – the loss of “ground underfoot”, the lack of stability and a real prospect for “tomorrow” and beyond, the lack of real security in any context. Well, and, of course, the emasculation of communication, its widespread replacement by “communication”, which is obviously not the same thing.

– What should a person do to get rid of loneliness?

Ilya Rasskazov: You need to see a psychotherapist.A person suffering from loneliness is a person with inner conflict. Often, attempts to independently resolve an internal conflict resemble the notorious baron who pulled himself out of the swamp. Internal demands and ideas about the family often conflict with ideas about work, rest, freedom, and so on. Special methods of psychotherapy, the effectiveness of which has been repeatedly proven, will help to understand your feelings and beliefs.

Ilya Slobodchikov: How to be treated? The recipe is naively simple and, alas, hardly realizable: more often go up to the mirror, look at yourself intently at it, and look more closely at those around you, be less afraid to show feelings such as benevolence, compassion, tenderness, joy from communication, and by the way, learn to communicate – tell each other (and yourself) more often what is pleasant.And the last – to run away from loneliness is useless, senseless, and, in fact, there is nowhere. But it is necessary to recognize it, accept, understand, translate it into adequate forms and to an acceptable level.

90,000 Loneliness and self-isolation of pensioners has a detrimental effect on their health – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Loneliness and self-isolation of pensioners has a detrimental effect on their health. And the lack of communication can even shorten your life. So, a group of scientists led by Jane Wardle from University College London, studying the aging process, conducted several experiments over the course of two years.A survey of 65 thousand people over 50 showed that almost half of them suffer from a lack of attention. During the study, nearly 22 percent of the participants died. Those who no longer worked, were sick and were deprived of the care of loved ones …

Researchers came to the conclusion: loneliness weakens the human immune system, significantly increases the risk of disease. According to forecasts of foreign doctors, by 2020 the number of diagnoses of “depression” may exceed all registered cases of oncological and cardiovascular diseases.But even now, in terms of the degree of danger, the depressive state is in no way inferior to these deadly ailments, since it causes more than 60 percent of suicides.

In general, the situation with loneliness of elderly people is so serious that even in such a prosperous country as Great Britain, a decision has just been made to appoint a minister for loneliness. Moreover, it was promised to allocate the necessary funding for organizations that will be directly involved in practical work to eliminate the problem.Indeed, according to the British Red Cross, about 9 million people in the United Kingdom regularly complain of loneliness. Moreover, social isolation affects not only the elderly, but also other groups of the population, including young mothers and people with disabilities.

By the way, as polls by the Levada Center show, more than a quarter of Russians are afraid of the onset of old age. A rating of the main problems of elderly Russians has also been formed: scanty pensions (59 percent), illnesses (45 percent), loneliness (25 percent), a sense of their own uselessness (24 percent) and disrespect on the part of young people (18 percent).

At the same time, the problem of determining age boundaries and criteria for old age remains open. Back in 1973, the WHO Regional Office for Europe decided to consider the age of 60-74 years old, 75-89 years old, 90 years and older – the age of long-livers. But there is still no unified structuring of old age.

– The traditional concept of old age has fallen into disrepair. Possession of modern technologies turns out to be almost a more significant distinguishing feature than age as such, says Anton Smolkin, Ph.D.

Of course, there are ways to get rid of loneliness in old age. For example, in many regions of Russia there are courses on teaching computer literacy for pensioners. And possession of the Internet is a huge “window” for communication. Somewhere there are courses for retraining the elderly – with the provision of a feasible job. Health clubs are successfully operating for people of the age … But, it is clear that all these opportunities are not everywhere and not for everyone. Nevertheless, doctors are convinced that the elderly person himself largely depends on how strongly the feeling of loneliness captures him, how much he obeys him, how much it becomes stronger than all other human feelings.

The brain of lonely people works differently, scientists have found out

Loneliness affects not only a person’s mood, but even the work of his brain, scientists have found. How to deal with loneliness, tells the Science Department of Gazeta.Ru.

Eight years ago, scientists linked loneliness and the useless work of the human immune system.Moreover, researchers found out that loneliness can cause more intensive spread of cancerous tumors in the body and lead to the formation of more dangerous forms of tumors. Lonely people, however, have not diminished in the world because of this.

Naturally, scientists did not stop there and continued to study the phenomenon of loneliness. Particularly noted were spouses John and Stephanie Cacioppo, who work at the University of Chicago and pay special attention to how loneliness affects a person.And they managed to learn a lot of new things.

In particular, it turned out that lonely people have a different brain function.

We are talking about the fact that the electrical activity of the brain of lonely people is faster. In addition, it was found that the brain of lonely people reacts much more sharply to various negative events. Scientists believe that this means that lonely people constantly protect themselves from various threats of a social nature. And this happens on a subconscious level.

“This means that if I feel lonely, then my brain is already in a similar state.And I’m starting to gravitate towards even greater isolation, “- said John Cacioppo, noting that it is necessary to fight this desire, otherwise there is a risk of falling into a real depression.

The couple’s article , published by in July in the scientific journal Cortex, also explores how the brains of single people are different. In the experiment, as a result of which it was written, 70 people took part, 32 of them were single. Scientists subjected subjects to electroencephalography while people were taking the Stroop test, based on differences in visual and logical color perception.

During the test, participants were shown colorful words and asked to name the color of the words, not their meaning. At the same time, the subjects were shown words with social and non-social connotations, differing only in positive or negative context.

06 September 18:11

Subsequently, scientists conducted another study, during which lonely and not only people were shown not words, but pictures.The study itself can be found in the journal Cognitive Neuroscience . In both studies, the Cacioppo couple concluded that the brains of single people work differently.

“Loneliness causes your brain to be hyper-alert and activate the mechanisms of” keeping in itself “. Therefore, if it seems to you that you are lonely, try to reconsider your behavior and attitude towards people, ”John Cacioppo is sure.

According to the researcher, there are four ways to deal with loneliness.First, you need to start communicating with people. And live – communication on the Internet will not help. John Cacioppo advises accepting any invitations and communicating with people for any reason. Secondly, the researcher recommends creating a social activity plan: take a diary and plan where you can go in the coming days. Third, the scientist suggests spending more time with people you are interested in. Moreover, we can talk not only about mutual sympathy, but also about the same hobbies and musical preferences.Finally, you just need to think less about the bad.

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