A recent study led by researchers from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development and Center for Healthy Aging suggests that loneliness can have a negative impact on our daily health. The study aims to understand the nuances of loneliness and how variations in daily feelings of loneliness can affect short- and long-term well-being. According to the researchers, the findings provide further evidence of the detrimental effects of loneliness and isolation on physical health, leading to the conclusion that it is a public health crisis.
The complexities of loneliness and the impact of daily fluctuations in feelings of loneliness on overall well-being, both short-term and long-term, were explored by researchers. They noted that their findings support the 2023 statement made by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy regarding the detrimental effects of loneliness and isolation on physical health, identifying it as a public health crisis. The study, published in the journal Health Psychology, also highlights the various experiences of loneliness, coinciding with Loneliness Awareness Week from June 10-16. It sheds light on the long-term health effects of loneliness and the inadequate support for individuals experiencing it.Client social connections have been associated with a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia in older adults, as stated by the surgeon general. Additionally, individuals who often feel lonely are more prone to developing depression and other mental health issues compared to those who rarely feel lonely.
The recent research showed that loneliness can result in adverse health effects even in individuals who do not usually consider themselves lonely or experience loneliness. Those who experience occasional feelings of loneliness or have significant fluctuations in their social connections can also be affected.The data from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE) involving 1,538 participants shows a connection between daily health issues and feelings of loneliness. These health issues include fatigue, headaches, and nausea. The study, led by David Almeida, a professor at Penn State, focuses on loneliness in midlife, specifically among individuals aged 35 to 65. Unlike previous research that concentrated on loneliness in adolescents and older adults, this study aims to shed light on the effects of loneliness in midlife.The researchers conducted telephone interviews with NSDE participants to evaluate their daily stress and mood over eight consecutive days. Participants were asked to report any stressful or positive situations they experienced, along with their feelings each day, including levels of loneliness and frequency. They were also asked about physical symptoms like fatigue or headaches. These assessments were repeated twice, with a 10-year gap between them.
The data revealed that participants experienced fewer physical symptoms on days when they felt less lonely, as well as on days when their loneliness levels were lower than their average.The results indicate that individuals who experienced greater fluctuations in loneliness from day to day had more severe physical health symptoms, while those who were more consistently lonely over the course of eight days experienced less severe physical health symptoms. According to Almeida, these findings suggest that understanding the day-to-day variations in loneliness is crucial for addressing its impact on health. Increasing feelings of social connection, even for just one day, could lead to fewer health symptoms. This daily approach could serve as a manageable and hopeful intervention for individuals dealing with loneliness. Dakota Witzel, a postdoctoral research fellow in the CThe lead author of the article on Healthy Aging, suggests that it is important to pay attention to daily feelings of loneliness, not just long-term loneliness. While sustained loneliness can lead to long-term health effects, short-term loneliness can also have negative health symptoms. The research suggests that loneliness is not always a binary trait, as some days or even hours can be worse than others. If we can understand and address these shorter-term feelings of loneliness, we may be able to improve overall health.
When we understand the different levels of loneliness that people experience on a daily basis, we can start to comprehend the impact it has on our overall health in the short and long term.”
This research was a collaborative effort involving Karina Van Bogart, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State; Erin Harrington, an assistant professor specializing in cognition and cognitive development at the University of Wyoming; and Shelbie Turner, a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
The funding for this research was provided by the National Institutes of Health.
