Loneliness and isolation drain years of health

Loneliness may not be limited to feelings of sadness or missing others; it may also extend to physical and mental health for many years. A recent American study has revealed that individuals who experience both loneliness and social isolation may live fewer years free of chronic diseases or mental disorders. Researchers from Tulane University conducted the study, which was published in Nature Communications, with the aim of estimating the relationship between loneliness and social isolation and the average number of years a person can live in good health.

Study of more than 277,000 people: The researchers analyzed data from 277,400 individuals aged 40 to 69 who did not have seven major diseases at the start of the study. These diseases included diabetes, heart and lung diseases, cancer, dementia, depression, and anxiety. The scientists used age 50 as a reference point to calculate the expected number of years participants would live without developing these diseases. The researchers distinguished between two different concepts: social isolation, which refers to a lack of relationships and contact with others, and loneliness, which refers to a person’s feeling of dissatisfaction with their social relationships, even if they are surrounded by people.

Men are more psychologically affected: The results showed that women who experienced both loneliness and social isolation recorded a reduction of about 3.7 years in their average life free from mental disorders, compared to women who did not experience either. Among men, the difference was larger, reaching about 5.8 years. The findings were not limited to mental health; the combination of loneliness and social isolation was associated with a reduction in the average number of years free from physical diseases by about 2.4 years for women and 1.7 years for men.

Do healthy habits protect against the effects of isolation? The researchers also examined the role of a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, physical activity, adequate sleep, and abstaining from smoking. They found that these habits were associated with mitigating the loss of healthy years linked to social isolation. However, the result was different regarding the feeling of loneliness, as a healthy lifestyle did not significantly reduce the additional health risks associated with it. This may suggest that the feeling of loneliness requires attention beyond exercising and eating healthy, extending to improving the quality of human relationships and enhancing the sense of belonging and social support.