Difference Between Loneliness and Isolation (and Why It Matters)
We often use the words “loneliness” and “isolation” interchangeably, and over the past year or so, many of us have become too familiar with both of them. However, it is possible to be isolated but not lonely, or lonely but not isolated. And both have a significant impact on our physical and mental well-being.
Social isolation is a lack of social connections. This could be due to quarantine, living in a remote area, living alone, or any number of other factors that can prevent a person from having a network of people they can rely on and trust.
On the other hand, loneliness is a sense of social isolation, which is not necessarily the same thing. A person can have many social connections with others and still feel lonely, while a socially isolated person may have only a few close social ties, but not feel lonely.
Loneliness and social isolation were serious problems even before the pandemic.
Even before the pandemic, loneliness and social isolation were serious problems. In a report by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a quarter of Americans over 65 found themselves socially isolated, while a significant number of adults over 45 felt lonely, with this proportion increasing as the number of people increased. age.
This report was published in February 2020, shortly before our world turned upside down, forcing us to quarantine and maintaining physical distance between us. As Carla Perissonotto , co-author of the report and lecturer in the Department of Geriatric Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, to the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Aging , “The reality is, to some extent, we are in a data free zone. … We don’t know how long we need to be alone or isolated, or how serious it needs to be in order to have long-term negative consequences. ”
Our strategies for dealing with loneliness need to be changed
In terms of what to do with social isolation and loneliness, we are in new territory. What we do know is that both social isolation and loneliness are detrimental to our health . Social isolation leads to an increased risk of premature death as well as a higher risk of dementia. Both social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, while loneliness often causes higher levels of anxiety and depression.
As the pandemic drags on, our ability to mitigate our social isolation is still limited by COVID-19 precautions. We are all dealing with Zoom fatigue as well, while social media and other forms of digital communication can go so far.
Regarding how well digital contact can help prevent loneliness, studies have shown mixed results, with one study showing an increase in loneliness despite an increase in digital communication, while another study found that although adults over 50 experienced an increase in social isolation. their level of loneliness remained stable.
Think about what you need to feel less lonely.
However, when it comes to social isolation and loneliness, we can think about what we need to feel less alone. When it comes to meaningful social contact, it will look different to everyone, which means that what works for one person may not work for another. As Perissinotto told the NY Times , what we can do is think about what kind of connections we need and how we might get them.
Whatever might make you feel a little less lonely, it’s important to find it and devote the time it needs to. Your health and well-being will be grateful to you.