Humans are social beings; evolution dictates that staying and living in groups is beneficial for our survival. Loneliness reminds us of pain and warns us of the threat of becoming isolated.
Feelings of loneliness are a common human experience, though each person's experience with them can vary. Loneliness is commonly described as a lack of social connection and meaningful relationships. However, it's important to note that loneliness and being alone are two separate ideas. While some people may feel lonely because they are alone, this is not always the case.
Types of Loneliness
Situational Loneliness: caused by environmental factors, migration of people, interpersonal conflicts, accidents and disasters, etc.
Developmental Loneliness: caused by personal inadequacies, developmental deficits, significant separations, poverty, living arrangements, and physical/psychological disabilities
Internal Loneliness: caused by personality factors, mental distress, low self-esteem, guilt, and poor coping strategies
Loneliness and Mental Health
Chronic loneliness is described as a deep feeling of loneliness that lasts for a long time. It is not a mental health issue or a mental illness but is often associated with such concepts because having a mental health problem can increase feelings of loneliness.
For example, if one is struggling with mental health, one might exhibit antisocial tendencies that may lead to loneliness. These include avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy, having low self-esteem, finding it hard to engage with others and communicate your feelings, feeling like you’re a burden to others, and feeling overwhelmed in busy places.
The relationship between loneliness and mental health issues can be described as a vicious circle. Loneliness can harm your mental health, especially if you've felt lonely for a long time. In turn, having worse mental health can increase loneliness. Past studies have led loneliness to be associated with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety and potential health concerns such as low self-esteem and sleep problems.
Depression:
When people are dealing with both loneliness and depression, the loneliness seems to amplify the negative feelings and self-perceptions. Past studies have linked insecure attachment styles to depression, meaning people who tend to be more lonely also struggle with contributors to depression. These may include issues with relationships, self-esteem, and problem-solving.
Studies on the relationship between age groups and loneliness found higher levels of depression in older adults. Researchers believe the gradual lifestyle changes accompanying aging are a significant determining factor. Furthermore, older adults living alone reported much higher levels of loneliness than those living with a family or a spouse. This suggests that loneliness and depression are deeply intertwined.
Alzheimer’s Disease:
Research into mental health has begun to shed light on the effects of aging on mental health and well-being. The consensus is that when people feel lonely, they tend to experience a faster decline across all mental abilities - things like memory, processing speed, and spatial awareness.
There are a couple of theories on why loneliness and dementia are so closely linked–
Loneliness as a consequence of the early stages of dementia: As people start to struggle with cognitive changes, it can become more difficult for them to maintain social connections. This makes loneliness seem like a byproduct of the disease.
Loneliness itself is damaging the neural systems involved in memory and thinking.
Studies have found that people reporting higher levels of loneliness are more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's compared to those who feel more socially connected. One conclusion that could be drawn is that loneliness is a major risk factor when it comes to developing cognitive decline and dementia as we age.
Causes
Loneliness has many different causes. These vary from person to person due to everyone’s unique experiences and circumstances in life.
Certain life events or experiences may make you feel lonely more often, such as:
Experiencing a bereavement
Going through a relationship issue
Retirement or changing jobs
Entering a new social environment or group
Major lifestyle changes
Moving to a new area or country
Research suggests that some traits lead people to be more vulnerable to loneliness than others:
Having no friends or family
Being estranged from your family
Having a less active social life
Belonging to a minority group
Being excluded from social activities
Financial struggles
Serious illnesses or disabilities
Reference List
Mind.org.uk. (2023). About loneliness. [online] Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/about-loneliness/#:~:text=Some%20research%20suggests%20that%20loneliness,I'd%20like%20to%20do.
Mushtaq, R., Sheikh Shoib, Shah, T. and Mushtaq, S. (2014). Relationship Between Loneliness, Psychiatric Disorders and Physical Health ? A Review on the Psychological Aspects of Loneliness. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research. [online] doi:https://doi.org/10.7860/jcdr/2014/10077.4828.
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