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Studies have found that experiencing loneliness and social isolation increases the risk of premature death.
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CNN
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A large study shows that being lonely or socially isolated may increase your risk of dying early.
According to a paper published in June 2023 in the journal Nature Human Behavior, many studies have been conducted on the link between social isolation, loneliness, and the risk of premature death, but some results are It is said to be controversial and have pros and cons. Turhan Khanli, a professor of integrative neuroscience at Stony Brook University’s psychology department in New York, said these conflicting results may be due to studies focusing only on one group or region. Kanri was not involved in this research.
However, this paper is a meta-analysis of 90 studies examining the link between loneliness, social isolation, and early death in more than 2 million adults. Study participants were followed for 6 months to 25 years.
People who experienced social isolation had a 32% higher risk of dying prematurely from any cause compared to people who were not socially isolated. Participants who reported feeling lonely were 14% more likely to die early than those who did not.
The study “gives us even more confidence” in the importance of social isolation and loneliness as independent risk factors for premature death, said Julian, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University in Utah. Holt-Runstad said. the study. Holt-Lunstad was the lead scientist on the U.S. Surgeon General’s May 2023 advisory report on social isolation and loneliness.
Social isolation, as defined in this study, occurs when someone has an objective lack of contact with other people, which may include having a limited network or living alone.
Loneliness, on the other hand, refers to the subjective distress people feel when there is a discrepancy between the quality of the social relationships they actually have and what they desire, according to a meta-analysis. Anthony Ong, professor of psychology and director of the Center for Integrative Developmental Sciences and Human Health Research Institute at Cornell University in New York, says that people in these situations often experience unmet needs for connection and intimacy. They say they may feel unsatisfied with their relationships. state. Ong was not involved in the study.
“Americans are spending more and more time in isolation, but we don’t see it as a danger, especially when it’s their choice. People don’t feel isolated if they don’t feel alone.” I think it’s okay and even good to have that,” Holt-Lunstad said in an email. “However, this data corroborates and extends previous data documenting risks associated with social isolation, independent of and independent of loneliness.”
Loneliness and isolation in the body
Social isolation or loneliness can be considered a form of stress, Kanli said.
“Everyone may feel lonely from time to time, but when that feeling becomes persistent, it can act as a form of chronic stress and is unhealthy,” Kanli said in an email. . “One way it can happen is through stress hormones that negatively affect the body.”
The study authors also looked at associations with loneliness, social isolation, and death in people with cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Previous research has shown that the relationship between social support and health may be a chicken-and-egg problem. It can lead to a vicious cycle in which patients lose social support due to poor health… Over time, patients tend to need more social support than the general population. ” says the study.
Participants who were socially isolated and had cardiovascular disease were more likely to die early than those without cardiovascular disease. And breast cancer patients who were socially isolated had a higher risk of dying from breast cancer than those who were not socially isolated.
Dying prematurely from any cause or cardiovascular disease may also be related to people’s lifestyle behaviors, Kanli said, adding, “People who feel socially isolated or lonely are more likely to smoke. “They tend to have unhealthy habits, such as drinking alcohol, eating poorly (or) rarely exercising.”
Experts say there are several factors that make social isolation a stronger risk of early death than loneliness.
“People who are lonely but not socially isolated, experiencing mental health stress, may be able to bounce back from stress thanks to social networks,” even if those networks are entirely private. Even if it’s not what the researchers would like, said study lead author Huang Wang. Professor of Epidemiology at Harbin Medical University, China.
Having a small social network, having little contact with the outside world, or having no one to check on you may be less likely to seek medical care, Kanli said. .
“While this meta-analysis is important in providing evidence supporting the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness, there is an urgent need to move beyond questions regarding independent effects to consider their collective interactions. Yes,” Ong said. He consulted via email among the scientists involved in the Surgeon General’s report.
This further research will pave the way for “deeper understanding and effective interventions,” he added.
People experiencing social isolation or loneliness should proactively seek social support, Wang said.
“Think of maintaining your social network like you would any other health-promoting activity: exercise regularly, eat well, and take care of yourself,” Kanli says. Make it a priority to foster social connections by limiting the time you say “hi” to only holidays or thinking about ways to participate in activities that allow you to meet a new circle of like-minded people. He added that it should.
Public health strategies to address loneliness and social isolation are also needed, including raising awareness, Wang said.
Wang said it was important to develop interventions with the help of family and community networks. Health systems also need to develop ways to identify social isolation and loneliness in patients so that health professionals can provide appropriate support, he added.