Loneliness is increasingly prevalent yet often overlooked in our lives.
Research is uncovering just how detrimental chronic loneliness can be to both our mental and physical health.
Key Facts:
- Loneliness is feeling alone despite having social connections, not simply being alone. It is the perception of isolation.
- Prevalence of loneliness rose from 11-17% in the 1970s to over 40% today.
- Loneliness increases risk of depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, impaired immunity, inflammation, and premature mortality.
- Three dimensions of loneliness: intimate, relational, collective.
- Treatments targeting maladaptive social cognition through therapy are most effective for reducing chronic loneliness.
Source: Perspectives on Psychological Science (March 2015)
Defining Loneliness
Loneliness is feeling alone despite having relationships, not just being alone.
It is a subjective sense of isolation and disconnection from meaningful relationships.
Even popular individuals with many contacts can feel lonely.
The quality of relationships matters more than the quantity.
Loneliness is not the same as depression, though they are related.
It is possible to be lonely even among friends and family.
As comedian Robin Williams stated, “The worst thing is to feel all alone in a crowd.”
Who Feels Lonely?
Anyone can feel lonely at times.
But certain groups are at higher risk, like seniors living alone, those with health conditions limiting mobility/communication, individuals with psychiatric disorders, and marginalized groups.
Still, loneliness occurs across all ages.
Younger people today paradoxically feel lonelier despite being more digitally connected.
Three Dimensions of Loneliness
Research reveals three interrelated types of loneliness:
- Intimate Loneliness – Absence of a close confidant or life partner for attachment and emotional support. Marital status is the strongest predictor.
- Relational Loneliness – Lack of quality friendships and family connections within one’s core social network. Frequency of contact with significant friends reduces this loneliness.
- Collective Loneliness – Disconnection from groups that provide a valued social identity. Membership in voluntary groups decreases collective loneliness.
Consequences of Loneliness
Chronic loneliness increases risk for:
- Depression, anxiety, suicide
- Alcoholism, aggression
- Cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s
- Impaired sleep, fatigue
- Cardiovascular disease – increased blood pressure, vascular resistance
- Reduced immunity, inflammation
- Obesity
- Premature mortality
Mechanisms Behind Loneliness’ Health Impacts
Loneliness triggers evolutionary self-preservation instincts.
Our bodies respond to perceived isolation as a threat. This leads to:
- Hypervigilance for social threats
- Negative expectations of others
- Withdrawal, negativity towards others
- Cognitive and memory biases
- Disruption of protective stress responses
- Inflammation, reduced immunity
Potential Interventions for Loneliness
Educational campaigns raise awareness, which can help reduce stigma surrounding loneliness. But effective treatments are also critical. Interventions include:
- Increasing opportunities for social interaction – Some benefit, but number of contacts doesn’t address quality relationships.
- Enhancing social support – Mentoring programs help, but one-sided support is limited.
- Teaching social skills – Useful for those lacking skills, but not the root issue for most.
- Targeting maladaptive social cognition – Cognitive behavioral therapy to identify and reframe negative thought patterns is most effective.
Adjunctive short-term medication early in therapy shows promise in animal research.
Potential options:
- Antidepressants like SSRIs
- Neurosteroids to restore healthy stress response
- Oxytocin to boost social bonding
However, more human research is still needed.
The Takeaway on Loneliness
Loneliness is reaching epidemic levels yet flying under the radar.
Our biology treats it as a threat, putting us under chronic stress.
This silently damages our minds and bodies.
But emerging science is paving the way for more effective treatments.
The goal is to alter dysfunctional thought patterns before they become entrenched.
With compassion and the right tools, we can foster more meaningful social connections vital to our wellbeing.
References
- Study: Loneliness: Clinical Import and Interventions
- Authors: Stephanie Cacioppo et al. (2015)
