Study: Loneliness and social isolation are linked to serious health outcomes

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Several studies have found a link between social isolation, loneliness, and the risk of early death, but some results have been controversial or mixed, according to the paper published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, Monday. Turhan Canlı, a professor of integrative neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at Stony Brook University in New York City, who was not involved in the study, said that these conflicting results may be due to research focusing only on a specific group or region.

The new paper is a meta-analysis of 90 studies that examined the links between loneliness, social isolation, and early death in more than two million adults. Study participants were followed between six months and 25 years.

People who experienced social isolation were 32% more likely to die prematurely from any cause compared to those who did not experience social isolation. Participants who reported feeling lonely were 14% more likely to die prematurely than people who did not.

Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University in Utah and the lead scientist on the US General Surgery's recent advisory on social isolation and loneliness, who was not involved in the study, said the research highlights the impact of social isolation and loneliness on premature death. The new study defined social isolation as when someone suffers from an objective lack of contact with other people, and this could involve having a limited network around them or living alone.

On the other hand, loneliness refers to feeling distressed if there is a discrepancy between the quality of social relationships and what one aspires to, according to the meta-analysis. Regarding this matter, Anthony Ong, a professor of psychology and director of the Center for Integrative Developmental Sciences and Human Health Laboratories at Cornell University in New York City, USA, who was not involved in the research, said that someone in this situation may feel that his relationships are unsatisfactory if his needs for communication or intimacy are not met.

Holt-Lunstad pointed out that "Americans are spending more time in isolation, yet we do not consider that to be a danger, especially if that is their choice," explaining that "people assume that it is okay, and perhaps even good for us, to live in isolation if we do not feel lonely." Feeling lonely and isolated in the body. Canley said that social isolation or loneliness can be considered a form of stress, pointing out that “we may all feel lonely from time to time, but when this feeling is continuous, it may be a form of chronic stress, which is unhealthy.”

"One way this can happen is through stress hormones that negatively affect the body," he continued. Participants who were socially isolated and had cardiovascular disease were more likely to die early than those without the disease.

Also, people who live in social isolation and have breast cancer are more likely to die from the disease compared to people who are not socially isolated. Dying early from any cause or from cardiovascular disease may also be linked to people's lifestyle behaviors, Canley said: "People who feel socially isolated, or lonely, tend to have unhealthy habits, such as smoking, alcohol use, poor diet, (or) little exercise."

Experts believe that many factors may contribute to social isolation, which has a stronger impact on the risk of early death than loneliness. “People who experience loneliness, but are not socially isolated, experience psychological distress, but they may be resilient because of their social networks,” even if those networks are not exactly what someone wants, said study first author Fan Wang, a professor of epidemiology at Harbin Medical University in China.

Having a small social network, and little or no contact with the outside world can make a person less likely to receive medical care if they don't have anyone checking on them, Canley added. “While this meta-analysis is important in providing supportive evidence for the harmful effects of social isolation and loneliness, there is an urgent need to move beyond questions regarding independent effects and consider their joint interaction,” noted Ong, who was also among the scientists involved in the General Surgery report.

He added that this additional study will pave the "way for deeper understanding and effective interventions." Expanding social connections Wang explained that people who suffer from social isolation and loneliness should diligently seek social support.

Canley advised that you should think about "maintaining a social network like any other health-promoting activity, such as exercising regularly, eating well, and taking care of yourself." He added that developing your social connections is a priority by not just "saying hello" to someone on vacation, or by thinking of ways to engage in activities that might expose you to new circles of like-minded people.

Developing interventions with the help of family members and community networks is crucial, Wang said.