The Case against Loneliness
Studies of elderly people and social isolation concluded that those without adequate social interaction were twice as likely to die prematurely.
The increased mortality risk is comparable to that from smoking. And loneliness is about twice as dangerous as obesity.
Social isolation impairs immune function and boosts inflammation, which can lead to arthritis, type II diabetes, and heart disease. Loneliness is breaking our hearts, but as a culture we rarely talk about it.
Loneliness has doubled: 40 percent of adults in two recent surveys said they were lonely, up from 20 percent in the 1980.
All of our Internet interactions aren’t helping and may be making loneliness worse. A recent study of Facebook users found that the amount of time you spend on the social network is inversely related to how happy you feel throughout the day.
Source: Jessica Olien at Slate.
I was lonely once… until I realized I’m my own best company!
Here, Here!
and then you developed diabetes?
The increased mortality risk is comparable to that from smoking.
Maybe smokers are more apt to die because they are lonely! Nobody wants to sit too close to them due to the smell of second-hand cigarette smoke!
Loneliness has doubled: 40 percent of adults in two recent surveys said they were lonely, up from 20 percent in the 1980.
Loneliness may have doubled due to a work environment that is not as physically exhausting and relies on more connected tasks. I can see how working from home could result in a higher sense of loneliness. I doubt if people in developing countries have trouble with loneliness when they come home exhausted to a small, cracker-box house filled with their extended family. I certainly don’t want to emulate their existence.
Also, the Internet may well be an outlet for lonely people who turn to synthetic friends on Facebook. It’s not Facebook making them lonely; it’s lonely people who try to mimic the close, interpersonal relationships they’re lacking by using Facebook. I certainly feel less lonely when I send or receive an email to friends or family. But I never use Facebook.
The rise in businesses from home could also factor in. As more people choose to work from home, whether for a company, or self starter there is less daily interaction.
I value my alone “time”, however, I think that being completely alone for an extended period of time is not good for your health.
“Social isolation impairs immune function and boosts inflammation”
-I think this can easily be attributed to lack of physical activity isolated people participate in.
I’m sure that there are plenty of not lonely people who suffer similarly.
Welp, I guess the government should force us to have social interaction in the name of public health. How does two play dates a week sound?
Some of it may be practical. Having transportation and follow-up assistance after a medical procedure, etc. In California they won’t schedule something like a colonoscopy unless you not only arrange transportation, but arrange for your escort to walk into the office and sign the patient out. I don’t know whether it’s strictly liability considerations; there may be state law involved as well.
Sorry, my point being that people may forgo care if it becomes inconvenient or they are concerned about inconveniencing someone else.