The health implications of experiencing loneliness

“Loneliness is Multifactorial”:
Loneliness, as simple as it may sound, is not something to take lightly. Loneliness is complex, in fact, in the article “The Loneliness Epidemic and Its Health Consequences” , Sandra Thomas describes, “…the etiology of loneliness is multifactorial…” (Thomas, 2024). That is to say, there are many reasons as to why more and more people living in America are being negatively affected by the modern epidemic of loneliness; these include: the rise in migration and immigration; people are moving away from environments surrounded by family and friends, into large cities that can feel overwhelming and alienating. There’s also the lingering effect of the COVID 19 lockdown, in which people worked from home, shopped from home, and spent their leisure time at home. And many touched their major milestones in that very bubble, with their primary mode of sharing being through social media –another big reason for the current condition of loneliness. Such intense states of isolation can result in depression, misery, poor health, difficulty socializing, and not being present or engaged throughout moments in life.

Age is a major factor as well. For example, the article “The epidemic of loneliness”, published by eClinicalMedicine, discusses “A recent study in the journal International Psychogeriatrics suggested we experience an increase in loneliness during three specific transitional periods in our lives: our late-20s, mid-50s, and late-80s…those aged 18–22 years having the highest average loneliness score while those aged 55–73 years had the lowest…” (eClinicalMedicine, 2023). A person’s “transitional periods” are often indicative of what their social patterns are. As they’re experiencing personal changes, that person may start to interact with the people around them differently. This includes losing friends or losing contact with other prominent figures in their lives. And while all generations are susceptible to this loneliness phenomenon, it appears those in gen Z are having a harder time (eClinicalMedicine, 2023).

Taking into account the aforementioned factors, people must recognize that loneliness isn’t simply the feeling of someone being by themselves. Loneliness has serious repercussions, thus, the present state of growing loneliness among the U.S. population has negative health implications which are then reflected in people’s personal lives.

The Health Effects:
The mental and physical health risks that accompany the loneliness epidemic are concerning. For example, “The list of…conditions…associated with loneliness and poor social connections is remarkably long—from impaired cognitive function, depression, anxiety, and increased risk of suicide, to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and infectious diseases…” (eClinicalMedicine, 2023).

People who are experiencing loneliness are in a vulnerable position wherein nobody’s checking on their health, making sure they’re visiting a doctor, taking the proper medication, or even if they have access to the resources they need (i.e. housing, insurance, food, etc.) to take care of themselves. They often have very few people to confide in or connect with, which only serves to increase intense feelings of emotional stress, and decreases feelings of passion, enthusiasm, or motivation to try in life: “Loneliness can also decrease health-promoting behaviors such as self-care and preventive screenings and increase health-damaging behaviors such as neglecting a nutritious diet or misusing substances” (Thomas, 2024). When it seems like no one cares, someone in such a fragile state of mind will question, “why bother?” This line of thinking is especially dangerous for those already struggling with psychological disorders because, “Loneliness has a negative impact on the quality of life and recovery journey of people living with mental illness, whose social networks tend to be small…” (Thomas, 2024).

Evidently, people are in need of community and strong interpersonal connections they can rely on. In order to achieve this, society has to start by reconsidering its unhealthy reliance on social media. Something interesting that Thomas points out in her article is that “Loneliness is exacerbated when technology replaces human interaction…” (Thomas, 2024).

The Personal Effects:
Loneliness takes away the ability for people to find joy in meaningful experiences. One example is during the holidays: “Although December is often associated with social connection and togetherness, in reality, this time of year can be among our most lonely. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year, and Winter Solstice, among others, are typically times for strong social ties and coming together of families and friends. Unfortunately, for those experiencing social isolation, these events can place additional weight on feelings of loneliness…” (eClinicalMedicine, 2023). It’s common on social media spaces to find young people sharing how the holidays are a difficult time for them because they’re away from family, or they don’t have friends who live close, or they can’t afford to make any gatherings happen. Meanwhile, all in their faces are images of happy families together, or advertisements to buy outfits for themselves or gifts for another person, or there’s food items at the grocery store being marketed as “on sale” when the prices are clearly inflated. Where is the enjoyment in any of this?

Another example is on special occasions: Thomas shares the experience of Marcie Parker, a book reviewer, who recounts in a review of a book on loneliness by another author, “‘I’ll never forget eating in a restaurant one time with my husband: next to us was a young couple out for dinner as well. In the hour and a half that we were there, this couple never once (never once!) looked up from their phones, looked at each other or uttered a single word to each other. I said to Jim that unless they are busy texting each other, this has got to be one of the loneliest and most disconnected couples of all time’… ” (Thomas, 2024). Even when some people are face-to-face, the intimacy is lacking. Many can share the experience of feeling alone while in a crowd of people, which is why you’ll likely observe more people recording at a party than actually dancing, people are more quick to snap a picture of the sunset instead of just taking in that moment, or people will pay for an activity they planned with friends but scroll through social media the whole time there. But in the end, where’s the fulfillment?

What It Means to Experience Loneliness:
Loneliness puts people’s health and quality of life at risk. It exacerbates a vulnerable state of isolation, pushing people further apart by bringing them closer to being reliant on technology and social media. To experience loneliness in America is to be deprived of intimacy, connection, community, fulfillment, drive, passion, care, and resources; to experience loneliness is not so simply defined or as trivial as most people think; to experience loneliness, is to be in a world full of rooms full of people, who ultimately feel alone.

References

eClinicalMedicine. (2023). The epidemic of loneliness. EClinicalMedicine, 66, 102395–102395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102395

Thomas, Sandra P. (2024) The Loneliness Epidemic and Its Health Consequences. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2024.2302786