Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Health

What is social isolation?

Social isolation refers to people being disconnected from society and lacking emotional and social connections with others.

The impact of social isolation

  • Increases the risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety
  • Increases the risk of physical health problems such as heart disease and stroke
  • Can lead to a decrease in quality of life

How to reduce social isolation?

  • Participate in community activities
  • Join interest groups or clubs
  • Reach out to others proactively

What is loneliness?

Loneliness refers to people feeling disconnected from their environment and social networks, and unable to establish meaningful connections.

The impact of loneliness

  • Increases the risk of mental health problems such as depression and suicide
  • Can lead to a decrease in quality of life
  • May affect physical health, such as lowering immune system function

How to reduce loneliness?

  • Attend social activities
  • Keep in touch with family and friends
  • Seek social support

How do social isolation and loneliness affect health?

  • Increases the risk of illness such as cardiovascular disease and stroke
  • Can lead to a decrease in quality of life
  • May increase the risk of death

How to maintain good health?

  • Healthy eating
  • Exercise regularly
  • Maintain social connections with others

Additional Mechanisms

  • Inflammation: Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to increased levels of inflammation in the body, which can contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
  • Stress: Social isolation and loneliness can cause chronic stress, which can have negative effects on physical and mental health. Chronic stress can contribute to a variety of health problems, including hypertension, obesity, and depression.

Additional Mechanisms

  • Behavioral factors: Social isolation and loneliness can lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as overeating, smoking, and alcohol abuse. These behaviors can contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
  • Sleep disturbances: Social isolation and loneliness can lead to sleep disturbances, such as insomnia and daytime sleepiness. Poor sleep quality and quantity have been linked to a variety of health problems, including hypertension, diabetes, and depression.

Additional Mechanisms

  • Cognitive decline: Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to cognitive decline in older adults. Cognitive decline can lead to the development of dementia and other age-related cognitive disorders

References

  • Cacioppo, J. T., Hawkley, L. C., & Thisted, R. A. (2010). Perceived social isolation makes me sad: 5-year cross-lagged analyses of loneliness and depressive symptomatology in the Chicago Health, Aging, and Social Relations Study. Psychology and aging, 25(2), 453-463.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on psychological science, 10(2), 227-237.
  • Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of behavioral medicine, 40(2), 218-227.

References

  • Berkman, L. F., & Kawachi, I. (Eds.). (2014). Social epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
  • Seeman, T. E., Lusignolo, T. M., Albert, M., & Berkman, L. (2001). Social relationships, social support, and patterns of cognitive aging in healthy, high-functioning older adults: MacArthur studies of successful aging. Health Psychology, 20(4), 243-255.
  • Pressman, S. D., Cohen, S., Miller, G. E., Barkin, A., Rabin, B. S., Treanor, J. J., & Turner, R. B. (2005). Loneliness, social network size, and immune response to influenza vaccination in college freshmen. Health psychology, 24(3), 297-306.