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.