2023-06-22 03:18:36
Feeling lonely is an unpleasant experience that can also have long-term health consequences. Like prolonged sitting, tobacco smoking, and obesity, loneliness is also a risk for chronic disease.
“Our great torment in life comes from the fact that we are alone and all our actions and efforts tend to flee from that loneliness”, wrote the renowned French writer Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) in the 19th century. In this century, loneliness has gained the attention of scientific researchers from all over the world and its risks to human health have been found.
Social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased risk of death from all causes, a review of 90 studies including more than 2 million individuals confirmed.
This review was published in the specialized magazine Nature Human Behaviour. They found that loneliness increases the risk of dying from any cause by 14%. In addition, they detected that the situation is worse when the impact of social isolation is measured, which means a lack of social relationships with other people. In this case, the risk of mortality increases by 32%.
Doctor Juan Eduardo Tesone, psychoanalyst, member of the Argentine Psychoanalytic Association and psychiatrist from the University of Paris XII, told Infobae: “From a psychological point of view, I believe that isolation, particularly at certain age moments, such as adolescence or older adulthood, is something that generates little stimulation and a great affective lack that in some way can favor not only death, but even the cognitive fragility of the person, because it affects their ability to think”.
This situation, he assured, was seen very clearly during the pandemic. “The people who suffered the most were the little boys, who could not socialize; adolescents who need to be in a group, and elderly people who were totally isolated and deprived of effective stimuli. This is a very big social problem, not only in Argentina, but throughout the world. For example, a large part of the homes in large capitals are homes for people who live alone, and this is a serious problem from the point of view of the physical and mental health of the population,” warned Tesone.
The results of the study review work carried out in China suggested that reducing social isolation and loneliness could contribute to improving health and well-being. At work, social isolation was defined as the objective (or limited) lack of social contact with other people and is characterized by a limited social network or infrequent social contacts. Loneliness refers to a subjective feeling of anguish that arises from a discrepancy between desired and actual social relationships. Research suggests that social isolation can encourage unhealthy behaviors, such as malnutrition and physical inactivity, and has been linked to poorer immune function.
Scientists in China conducted a meta-analysis of 90 studies that had examined the links between loneliness, social isolation and premature death among more than 2 million adults. Participant follow-up ranged from six months to 25 years (iStock)
Doctor Tesone explained the difference between solitude and isolation: “I believe that solitude is one thing when the person chooses it, and this is a very valid choice, because each of us needs moments alone to connect with ourselves, with others thoughts and creativity that may arise. In other words, the chosen solitude is one thing, and the imposed solitude, which is isolation, is another thing. This is not a choice, and I believe that in the solitude imposed in the form of isolation, the person rather suffers it, “said the doctor. Therefore, there is a loneliness that can be positive and creative, while isolation is always in some way harmful to health.
For his part, Dr. Oscar A. Paulucci, a psychoanalyst and medical specialist in Psychiatry, a full member of the Argentine Psychoanalytic Association, explained to Infobae: “Statistical studies have the characteristic that they are totalizing and establish cause-effect relationships that would later have to be see on a case by case basis. In any case, isolation should be separated from what loneliness is and not pathologize someone who may have a more solitary position and enjoy solitude with someone who is isolated from the other”.
“In today’s culture, despite the enormous facilitation of contacts through social networks and the thousands of Facebook and Instagram friends that each one may have, the feeling of loneliness does not subside,” said Paulucci.
“The social bond is very important as a support, as an accompaniment in the vicissitudes of life and there is really a tendency in today’s culture towards isolation with overinformation and with an apparent overcontact with multiple ties but with superficiality. In the current social bond this has absolutely impoverishing consequences, where the other is transformed into an object of consumption”, pointed out Paulucci.
Additionally, loneliness has been linked to sleep disturbances and immune dysfunctions. Previous studies have examined whether social isolation and loneliness are risk factors for mortality, but results have been mixed. Maoqing Wang, Yashuang Zhao and their colleagues at the Department of Epidemiology at the Harbin Medical University School of Public Health in China focused on that question.
They conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 90 prospective cohort studies published between 1986 and 2022, with a total of 2,205,199 individuals in cohorts followed over time. Among those studies, 29 had been conducted in the United States and 61 in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Japan, and Finland; all participants were 18 years or older, and 70% were 50 years or older.
They looked at the links between loneliness, social isolation, and death among people with cardiovascular disease or breast or colorectal cancer (Getty)
The authors found that both social isolation and loneliness were significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and cancer mortality, and that social isolation was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
Wang, Zhao, and their co-authors noted that the results are limited by the methods of the 90 included studies, which used different measures of social isolation and loneliness and were conducted primarily in high-income countries. They also found evidence that loneliness and social isolation impact healthcare use and costs. It is estimated that the social isolation of the elderly accounts for an annual expenditure of 6.7 billion dollars in health insurance in the United States alone.
“The scientists who conducted the review found that both social isolation and loneliness are associated with increased risk of all-cause and cancer mortality in the general population,” they commented in a paper. articlewhich was also published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, researchers Jiaojiao Ren from the Department of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health of the Southeast Medical University in Guangzhou, China, and Chen Mao.
Shot of a young businessman looking tired while working on a computer in an office at night. (Getty)
Another conclusion is that “social isolation is related to an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease in the general population,” they noted. Patients with cardiovascular disease or breast cancer who are socially isolated have a higher risk of all-cause mortality, and breast cancer patients who are socially isolated have higher cancer-specific mortality. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen the social relationships of cancer patients to prolong the survival time.
“The authors do an excellent job of evaluating the associations between social isolation, loneliness, and mortality. However, a potential limitation of this study is that it is difficult to determine the source of the heterogeneity, whether it is due to adjustment factors in the different original studies or to inconsistency of adjustment factors across studies,” they stated.
The experts said they hope the new study will increase awareness of the risks of social isolation and loneliness among health professionals and the general public, which can help in prevention and mitigation efforts.
Taking into account the results of the work, they recommend that health authorities should promote interventions with innovative technologies and resources from family members and community networks.
“This significant study makes us more aware of the need to develop interventions to address social isolation and loneliness. Interventions may involve innovative technologies and resource mobilization from family and community networks. The development of effective methods to identify social isolation and loneliness in the healthcare system, and the use of appropriate intervention strategies, should be a priority for healthcare professionals and will improve quality of life,” the authors said.
Jennifer Larson LaRue, a psychotherapist in Psychiatry and Psychology in Eau Claire and Rice Lake, Wisconsin, United States, provided 4 keys to dealing with loneliness and reconnecting with other people.
The first piece of advice is: “Start by taking care of yourself”, according to Larson LaRue. They should think about hobbies or activities that the person has not done for a long time, whether they involve other people or not. The second key is to spend time in nature. “This enhanced well-being comes from connecting with the beauty and wonder of the natural world, whether alone or with others,” she said.
A psychiatric expert gave recommendations on how to reconnect. Being kind to yourself and spending time in nature are two of its keys
In addition, he advised to start a reconnection little by little. “Start small, like meeting a friend or two for coffee, ice cream, or a walk in the park. Even offering a kind word or a friendly smile to someone on the street or to a work acquaintance is an easy way to start reconnecting,” said the specialist from the US Mayo Clinic Health System.
The fourth tip is to be kind to yourself. Dealing with loneliness and reconnecting can take practice and time. “If you are kind to yourself and others, you can easily return to those relationships that support and encourage you,” he said.
Dr. Paulucci finally concluded: “We are all born premature, we need each other. Not only from food dependence but from the need to cause someone else’s desire, the food supply is not enough to survive. We need to be desired and named to live”.
Keep reading:
Why in a hyper-connected world loneliness is still an epidemic? A silent pandemic?: How loneliness can cause health problems The 7 strategies to overcome depression according to science
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