Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionLoneliness vs. SolitudeCausesHealth RisksResearchTips
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Table of Contents
Definition
Loneliness vs. Solitude
Causes
Health Risks
Research
Tips
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While common definitions of loneliness describe it as a state of solitude or being alone, loneliness is actually a state of mind.Lonelinesscauses people to feel empty, alone, and unwanted. People who are lonely often crave human contact, but their state of mind makes it more difficult to form connections with others.
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Defining Loneliness
Loneliness is a universal human emotion that is both complex and unique to each individual. Because it has no single common cause, preventing and treating this potentially damaging state of mind can vary dramatically.
For example, a lonely child whostruggles to make friendsat school has different needs than a lonely older adult whose spouse has recently died.
Researchers suggest that loneliness is associated with social isolation, poor social skills, introversion, and depression.
Loneliness, according to many experts, is not necessarily about being alone. Instead, if youfeelalone and isolated, then that is how loneliness plays into your state of mind.
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Are You Feeling Lonely? Take the Test
This fast and freeloneliness testcan help you analyze your current emotions and determine whether or not you may be feeling lonely at the moment:
While research clearly shows that loneliness and isolation are bad for both mental and physical health, being alone is not the same as being lonely. In fact, solitude actually has a number of important mental health benefits, including allowing people to better focus and recharge.
RecapLoneliness is a state of mind linked to wanting human contact but feeling alone. People can be alone and not feel lonely, or they can have contact with people and still experience feelings of isolation.
Recap
Loneliness is a state of mind linked to wanting human contact but feeling alone. People can be alone and not feel lonely, or they can have contact with people and still experience feelings of isolation.
Things To Do By Yourself
Causes of Loneliness
Contributing factors to loneliness include situational variables, such as physical isolation, moving to a new location, and divorce.The death of someone significant in a person’s life can also lead to feelings of loneliness.
Additionally, it can be a symptom of apsychological disordersuch as depression. Depression often causes people to withdrawal socially, which can lead to isolation. Research also suggests that loneliness can be a factor that contributes to symptoms of depression.
Loneliness can also be attributed to internal factors such as lowself-esteem. People who lack confidence in themselves often believe that they are unworthy of the attention or regard of other people, which can lead to isolation andchronic loneliness.
Personality factors may also play a role.Introverts, for example, might be less likely to cultivate and seek social connections, which can contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
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Health Risks Associated With Loneliness
Loneliness has a wide range of negative effects on both physical andmental health,including:
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
These are not the only areas in which loneliness takes its toll. For example, lonely adults get less exercise than those who are not lonely.Their diet is higher in fat, their sleep is less efficient, and they report more daytime fatigue. Loneliness also disrupts the regulation of cellular processes deep within the body, predisposing lonely people to premature aging.
What Research Suggests About Loneliness
People who feel less lonely are more likely to be married, have higher incomes, and have higher educational status. High levels of loneliness are associated with physical health symptoms, living alone, small social networks, and low-quality social relationships.
What to Do If You’re Married but Lonely
Close Friends Help Combat Loneliness
Statistics suggest that loneliness is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in younger generations. According to one 2019 survey, 25% of adults between the ages of 18 and 27 reported having no close friends, while 22% reported having no friends at all.
The rise of the internet and ironically, social media, are partially to blame.
Experts believe that it is not thequantityof social interaction that combats loneliness, but thequality.
Having a few close friends is enough to ward off loneliness and reduce the negative health consequences associated with this state of mind. Research suggests that the experience of actual face-to-face contact with friends helps boost people’s sense of well-being.
Loneliness Can Be Contagious
One study suggests that loneliness may actually be contagious. Research has found that non-lonely people who spend time with lonely people are more likely to develop feelings of loneliness.
The Impact of Social Isolation on Mental Health
Tips to Prevent and Overcome Loneliness
Loneliness can be overcome. It does require a conscious effort to make a change. In the long run, making a change can make you happier, healthier, and enable you to impact others around you in a positive way.
Here are some ways to prevent loneliness:
Summary
Loneliness can have a serious effect on your health, so it is important to be able to recognize signs that you are feeling lonely. It is also important to remember that being alone isn’t the same as being lonely.
If loneliness is affecting your well-being, there are things that you can do that can help you form new connections and find thesocial supportthat you need. Work on forming new connections and spend some time talking to people in your life. If you’re still struggling, consider therapy. Whatever you choose to do, just remember that there are people who can help.
Ways to Cope With Loneliness
13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bruce LD, Wu JS, Lustig SL, Russell DW, Nemecek DA. Loneliness in the United States: A 2018 National Panel Survey of Demographic, Structural, Cognitive, and Behavioral Characteristics. Am J Health Promot. 2019;33(8):1123-1133Cigna Corporation. The Loneliness Epidemic Persists: A PostPandemic Look at the State of Loneliness among U.S. Adults. 2021Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review.Perspectives on Psychological Science: A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 201510(2), 227–237.Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.The growing problem of loneliness.Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9Sbarra DA.Divorce and health: Current trends and future directions.Psychosom Med. 2015;77(3):227–236. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000168Erzen E, Çikrikci Ö.The effect of loneliness on depression: A meta-analysis.Int J Soc Psychiatry.2018g;64(5):427-435. doi:10.1177/0020764018776349Hämmig O.Health risks associated with social isolation in general and in young, middle and old age[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2019 Aug 29;14(8):e0222124].PLoS One. 2019;14(7):e0219663. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663Xia N, Li H.Loneliness, social isolation, and cardiovascular health.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018 Mar 20;28(9):837-851. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7312Schrempft S, Jackowska M, Hamer M, Steptoe A.Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women.BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):74. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6424-yShovestul B, Han J, Germine L, Dodell-Feder D.Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors.PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0229087. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229087Ballard J.Millennials are the loneliest generation. YouGov.van der Horst M, Coffé H.How friendship network characteristics influence subjective well-being.Soc Indic Res. 2012;107(3):509-529. doi:10.1007/s11205-011-9861-2Miller G.Social neuroscience. Why loneliness is hazardous to your health.Science. 2011;331(6014):138-40. doi:10.1126/science.331.6014.138
13 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bruce LD, Wu JS, Lustig SL, Russell DW, Nemecek DA. Loneliness in the United States: A 2018 National Panel Survey of Demographic, Structural, Cognitive, and Behavioral Characteristics. Am J Health Promot. 2019;33(8):1123-1133Cigna Corporation. The Loneliness Epidemic Persists: A PostPandemic Look at the State of Loneliness among U.S. Adults. 2021Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review.Perspectives on Psychological Science: A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 201510(2), 227–237.Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.The growing problem of loneliness.Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9Sbarra DA.Divorce and health: Current trends and future directions.Psychosom Med. 2015;77(3):227–236. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000168Erzen E, Çikrikci Ö.The effect of loneliness on depression: A meta-analysis.Int J Soc Psychiatry.2018g;64(5):427-435. doi:10.1177/0020764018776349Hämmig O.Health risks associated with social isolation in general and in young, middle and old age[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2019 Aug 29;14(8):e0222124].PLoS One. 2019;14(7):e0219663. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663Xia N, Li H.Loneliness, social isolation, and cardiovascular health.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018 Mar 20;28(9):837-851. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7312Schrempft S, Jackowska M, Hamer M, Steptoe A.Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women.BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):74. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6424-yShovestul B, Han J, Germine L, Dodell-Feder D.Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors.PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0229087. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229087Ballard J.Millennials are the loneliest generation. YouGov.van der Horst M, Coffé H.How friendship network characteristics influence subjective well-being.Soc Indic Res. 2012;107(3):509-529. doi:10.1007/s11205-011-9861-2Miller G.Social neuroscience. Why loneliness is hazardous to your health.Science. 2011;331(6014):138-40. doi:10.1126/science.331.6014.138
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bruce LD, Wu JS, Lustig SL, Russell DW, Nemecek DA. Loneliness in the United States: A 2018 National Panel Survey of Demographic, Structural, Cognitive, and Behavioral Characteristics. Am J Health Promot. 2019;33(8):1123-1133Cigna Corporation. The Loneliness Epidemic Persists: A PostPandemic Look at the State of Loneliness among U.S. Adults. 2021Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review.Perspectives on Psychological Science: A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 201510(2), 227–237.Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.The growing problem of loneliness.Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9Sbarra DA.Divorce and health: Current trends and future directions.Psychosom Med. 2015;77(3):227–236. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000168Erzen E, Çikrikci Ö.The effect of loneliness on depression: A meta-analysis.Int J Soc Psychiatry.2018g;64(5):427-435. doi:10.1177/0020764018776349Hämmig O.Health risks associated with social isolation in general and in young, middle and old age[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2019 Aug 29;14(8):e0222124].PLoS One. 2019;14(7):e0219663. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663Xia N, Li H.Loneliness, social isolation, and cardiovascular health.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018 Mar 20;28(9):837-851. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7312Schrempft S, Jackowska M, Hamer M, Steptoe A.Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women.BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):74. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6424-yShovestul B, Han J, Germine L, Dodell-Feder D.Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors.PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0229087. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229087Ballard J.Millennials are the loneliest generation. YouGov.van der Horst M, Coffé H.How friendship network characteristics influence subjective well-being.Soc Indic Res. 2012;107(3):509-529. doi:10.1007/s11205-011-9861-2Miller G.Social neuroscience. Why loneliness is hazardous to your health.Science. 2011;331(6014):138-40. doi:10.1126/science.331.6014.138
Bruce LD, Wu JS, Lustig SL, Russell DW, Nemecek DA. Loneliness in the United States: A 2018 National Panel Survey of Demographic, Structural, Cognitive, and Behavioral Characteristics. Am J Health Promot. 2019;33(8):1123-1133
Cigna Corporation. The Loneliness Epidemic Persists: A PostPandemic Look at the State of Loneliness among U.S. Adults. 2021
Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review.Perspectives on Psychological Science: A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 201510(2), 227–237.
Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S.The growing problem of loneliness.Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9
Sbarra DA.Divorce and health: Current trends and future directions.Psychosom Med. 2015;77(3):227–236. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000168
Erzen E, Çikrikci Ö.The effect of loneliness on depression: A meta-analysis.Int J Soc Psychiatry.2018g;64(5):427-435. doi:10.1177/0020764018776349
Hämmig O.Health risks associated with social isolation in general and in young, middle and old age[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2019 Aug 29;14(8):e0222124].PLoS One. 2019;14(7):e0219663. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663
Xia N, Li H.Loneliness, social isolation, and cardiovascular health.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018 Mar 20;28(9):837-851. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7312
Schrempft S, Jackowska M, Hamer M, Steptoe A.Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women.BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):74. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6424-y
Shovestul B, Han J, Germine L, Dodell-Feder D.Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors.PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0229087. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229087
Ballard J.Millennials are the loneliest generation. YouGov.
van der Horst M, Coffé H.How friendship network characteristics influence subjective well-being.Soc Indic Res. 2012;107(3):509-529. doi:10.1007/s11205-011-9861-2
Miller G.Social neuroscience. Why loneliness is hazardous to your health.Science. 2011;331(6014):138-40. doi:10.1126/science.331.6014.138
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