Loneliness and social isolation are problematic!
By Mike Wasson, Engage Estero Board Member and Communications Team Member.
“Loneliness causes people to feel empty, alone, and unwanted,” says Kendra Cherry, a Master of Science in Education, Author, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist, and Educator. Loneliness is a scourge among older people: more than a fifth claim to always feel lonely. A recent study has shown that men are particularly at risk.
Loneliness affects almost half of all men over 50, and 700,000 older men suffer from severe loneliness. This figure is expected to rise nearly 50% in the next fifteen years. In the examination carried out in Blue Zones (where there is a much higher proportion of people living to 100 years), the research that examined longevity in these locations demonstrated that people shared the following common traits:
- A plant-based diet,
- Regular physical activity,
- A strong sense of purpose,
- A strong social support network.
- lower rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress.
A strong social support network was a key factor contributing to longevity. Sadly, a recent study showed that the lack of such interactions is linked with an increased risk of death.
“Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death,” says US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
“Just like we need to make time in our busy lives to be physically active, we need to make time in our busy lives to be socially active,” said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University.
“Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” is the title of an 82-page advisory issued in 2023 by the US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. In the opening letter, Murthy reports, “In recent years, about one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic cut off so many of us from friends, loved ones, and support systems, exacerbating loneliness and isolation.”
“The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity. And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.”
What Can Be Done?
Murthy suggests that we all need to work together to overcome the stigma attached to loneliness. He believes individual relationships are an untapped resource that can help “us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives.”
“Each of us can start now, in our own lives, by strengthening our connections and relationships.” He suggests:
- Answer that phone call from a friend.
- Make time to share a meal.
- Listen without distraction from your phone.
- Perform an act of service.
- Express yourself authentically.
“The keys to human-to-human connection are simple but extraordinarily powerful.” The full 82-page report can be viewed at this link.
A United Kingdom website, “Mind,” offers some other tips and suggestions for managing feelings and loneliness:
- Learn more about being comfortable in your own company
- Try and open up to people you know
- Take it slow, start small, and don’t rush the process; consider what your interests are
- Make new connections
- Try not to compare yourself to others
- Look after yourself
- Try talking therapies.
Medical Study Tracks the Problem
The Wall Street Journal reported in November 2023 reconfirmed that “Loneliness and social isolation were linked to an increased risk of death from any cause.” Their report was based on a new Bio Med Central Medicine study. The study “tracked people for over a decade and collected loneliness data before the Covid-19 pandemic. It adds to increasing evidence that loneliness can be bad for our health, contributing to health problems including anxiety, heart disease and dementia.”
The researchers, according to the Wall Street Journal, “looked at five measures for loneliness and isolation:
- Often feeling lonely
- Not being able to confide in a close companion,
- Living alone
- How often people visit with friends and family
- Weekly group activities.
All of them had an impact.” The strongest link was for people who were never visited by family and friends, which was associated with a 39% increase in risk of death. The researchers said those who had at least monthly friend and family visits had a lower risk of dying, but seeing them more often didn’t appear to add benefit.”
“Loneliness is a universal human emotion that is complex and unique to each individual,” continues Kendra Cherry. “Because loneliness has no common cause, preventing and treating this potentially damaging state of mind can vary dramatically.”
Her online article, “Very Well Mind,” further discusses the causes and health consequences. (See Link) https://www.verywellmind.com/loneliness-causes-effects-and-treatments-2795749
The article includes a 10-question loneliness quiz to determine whether you need more social connections. Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS, medically reviewed it. The article also includes a few tips to prevent and overcome loneliness, such as:
Consider community service
Serving others provides interaction and improves mental health
Expect the best
Focus on positive thoughts and attitudes
Develop quality relationships
Find people with similar interests or values
Take Small Steps
Recognize loneliness needs to change, but don’t expect it to change overnight
Join or Start a Group
Others are seeking community, too!
Strengthen a current relationship
Talk to someone you can trust
In summary, chances are we all need to spend a few minutes reaching out to friends and family to say hello, ask a few questions, and listen. With that phone call or visit, we could make someone happy and live a healthier life. John Cacioppo, American neuroscientist and author of ‘Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection,’ argues that loneliness developed for important evolutionary reasons: to remind us that as social beings, we must seek the company of others. Societies that have ‘drifted into disconnection’ are, therefore, fostering problems for the future.
Cacioppo suggests we heed the words of an old African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.
References
- The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing of Social Connection and Community.
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
- UK Website “Mind”
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/about-loneliness/
- Very Well Mind, part of Dot dash Meredith
https://www.verywellmind.com/loneliness-causes-effects-and-treatments-2795749
- The Wall Street Journal Article, November 10, 2023. “Loneliness Tied to Death Risk, Study Finds” By Brianna Abbott.