2 Surprising Insights That Challenge Our Understanding Of Loneliness

While occasional bouts of loneliness are normal, persistent feelings of isolation are a cause for concern.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | June 30, 2023

We don't need science to tell us that being around our loved ones is good for our health, but it's nice when research confirms our experience. A 2023 paper published in Science Advances found that people who had stronger social bonds, whether with their friends and family or with an extended group like their government or country, were less likely to be anxious or depressed compared to those who didn't. The study also found that people who had an easy time connecting with society reported higher levels of well-being.

These findings shed light on the importance of social bonds for our mental and emotional health.

Unfortunately, modern society doesn't prioritize developing and nurturing lasting bonds with others nearly as much as it should. Here are two findings about loneliness that can motivate us to spend more time with the people we love.

#1. Loneliness may be as deadly as smoking cigarettes

The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community recently made the claim that loneliness can have similar effects to our mortality as smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day.

This data comes from a 2010 meta-analysis that sought to understand the extent to which social relationships influenced mortality risks. The results? Individuals experiencing loneliness were found to be 50% more likely to die prematurely compared to those with strong social relationships. Utilizing advanced statistical methodologies, the researchers were able to demonstrate that the impact of social relationships on the risk of death mirrored that of established risk factors like smoking cigarettes.

This is backed up by a more recent study published in Nature, which found that both being alone and feeling lonely can increase the chances of getting sick or even dying.

These pieces of evidence serve as a resounding wake-up call to the inherent dangers of loneliness. The study's implications are profound, urging us to recognize that social isolation is not merely a matter of subjective experience but a tangible threat to our well-being and longevity.

#2. A lonely person's brain may be fundamentally different in how it processes social information

A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that lonely individuals may have different brain activity patterns than non-lonely individuals, which may influence how they perceive and respond to social information.

The study employed functional MRI to assess the similarity of brain activity among participants as they viewed a movie clip depicting social interactions. The outcomes revealed intriguing patterns: while individuals experiencing loneliness exhibited diminished similarity of brain activity with others in regions that play a role in social cognition, they displayed heightened activity in regions associated with negative emotions.

How does this translate to the real world?

"Our results suggest that lonely people process the world idiosyncratically, which may contribute to the reduced sense of being understood that often accompanies loneliness," said the authors of the study.

While the study does not provide a definitive explanation for whether these peculiar neural responses are a cause or a consequence of loneliness, it does offer valuable insights that bring scientists closer to the truth. By delving into the mechanisms underlying loneliness, we inch closer to a world that is kinder to those who have a hard time building and maintaining social connections.

Conclusion

Studies like these serve as a reminder that human connection is as complex as it is vital. Let us strive to prioritize meaningful relationships and combat the impact of loneliness — and create a world where individuals feel connected, understood, and supported.