As per a study titled ‘Plasma proteomic signatures of social isolation and loneliness associated with morbidity and mortality’ published recently in the journal Nature Human Behaviour by the University of Cambridge and Fudan University in China, there could be a possible correlation between loneliness on the one hand and morbidity and mortality on the other.
Leveraging data from 2,920 plasma protein analytes across over 40,000 participants, the study comprehensively characterised proteins and protein networks related to social isolation and loneliness. It concluded that there is a high genetic correlation between loneliness and depression, nearly equivalent to the genetic correlation between loneliness and social isolation.
Another study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that increased loneliness was associated with an increase in stress among young adults. Using a cross-sectional study with 521 young adults participating in an online survey in 2020, where they self-reported their loneliness and social isolation, among other aspects, it was found that an increase in social isolation was associated with higher alcohol use, and poorer cognitive and physical functioning among young adults.
Loneliness has been globally recognised as a growing public health concern with a detrimental impact on health. High-quality social connections are essential to our mental and physical health and our well-being, say experts. Social isolation and loneliness are important, yet neglected, social determinants for people of all ages—including older people. As per the World Health Organisation, social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with an estimated one in four older people experiencing social isolation and between 5 and 15 per cent of adolescents experiencing loneliness. It further adds that The effect of social isolation and loneliness on mortality is comparable to that of other well-established risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
Social isolation and loneliness are increasingly being recognised as a priority public health problem and policy issue across all age groups. During the course of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), the Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing Unit will be addressing social isolation and loneliness as one of the themes that cut across the four main action areas of the decade.
“Loneliness has been negatively associated with multiple health outcomes, including mental and physical health, sleep, cognition and cardiovascular health. In addition, meta-analyses have reported that lonely individuals exhibit higher rates of morbidity and mortality, including poorer quality of life and functional decline. Loneliness has also been associated with cognitive impairment and increased prevalence of mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety,” explain researchers who published a study in the journal Psychiatry Research in 2020.
While we are all faced with stress, we may have different ways of reacting to stress and coping with it. There is a need for psychosocial support and mental health interventions during this time. It is important to first educate individuals and communities regarding mental health and disease. One should be able to acknowledge and identify symptoms of mental distress in order to be able to address it. Mental health care providers should be disseminated at several levels in the community, and awareness should be created about any first aid helplines that exist for mental health.
“At a preventive level, it is important to focus on a balanced diet, adequate sleep and regular exercise. Following a routine can help alleviate some anxiety that comes with uncertainty. Seeking information from authentic sources and not being misled by social media is important. Even when social distancing is expected, staying connected through various means like the telephone and the internet is important. Engaging in leisure activities, such as yoga or meditation, can help one relax,” says Dr Sneha Karmani, consultant psychiatrist at Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, Pune.
