Loneliness

Loneliness: A Universal Condition That Plagues Us All

Imagine a world where everyone feels connected, supported, and valued. Now imagine the stark reality of loneliness—a pervasive emotion that affects millions worldwide. Loneliness is not just about being alone; it’s an emotional response to perceived isolation and social pain. It can be caused by genetic inheritance, cultural factors, lack of meaningful relationships, significant loss, excessive reliance on technology, or a self-perpetuating mindset.

The Faces of Loneliness

Is loneliness a universal condition? Some academics view it as inevitable, much like the shadows that follow us in life. It exists across all age groups but peaks among 16-24-year-olds and older adults. Chronic loneliness can lead to severe health issues such as increased obesity, depression, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol. Medical treatments include therapy and antidepressants, while social interventions involve group activities, reconnecting with friends, owning pets, and becoming more connected to one’s community.

Origins of Loneliness

For many people, the family of origin did not provide trust-building relationships needed for lasting connections. This can be due to parenting style, mental health issues, abusive family environments, or religious shunning. The lack of these relationships impacts one’s ability to know themselves and relate to others.

The Internet: A Double-Edged Sword

How does the internet play a role in loneliness? While it can facilitate interaction and empower people, excessive internet use can cause anxiety and depression, contributing to loneliness. Studies suggest there is a bidirectional causal relationship between loneliness and internet use, with excessive passive use increasing loneliness and moderate engagement reducing it.

The Heredity of Loneliness

Interestingly, the heredity of loneliness is much lower than previously estimated, suggesting that individual experiences and environment play a greater role. Loneliness peaks in adolescence and late adulthood, while being less common in middle adulthood. Long driving commutes can also lead to higher feelings of loneliness.

Typecasting Loneliness

Loneliness comes in various forms: social (lack of wider social network), emotional (lack of deep, nurturing relationships), family (lack of close ties with family members), and romantic (lack of a close bond with a romantic partner). Other types include existential, cosmic, cultural loneliness, and lockdown loneliness due to social disconnection during emergencies. There is a distinction between feeling lonely and being socially isolated (e.g., a loner).

Solitude: A Positive Perspective

While solitude can be seen as a negative state, it can have positive effects on individuals, improving cognitive state and leading to feelings of meaning and vital existence. There are two types of loneliness: transient (temporary) and chronic (permanent), with the latter being more difficult to alleviate.

The Existentialist View

From an existentialist perspective, individuality is a fundamental aspect of human experience, accepting loneliness as an inherent part of life. Loneliness can be seen as a paradox between human consciousness desiring meaning in life and the isolation of the universe. The prevalence of loneliness is estimated to be over 5% in industrial countries, with potential negative effects on physical and mental health.

Global Concerns

A systematic review found that modern life is reducing social relationships quality due to urbanization. In May 2023, Murthy published a United States Department of Health and Human Services advisory on loneliness, likening its dangers to smoking and obesity. In November 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness a ‘global public health concern.’ The report distinguishes between transient and chronic loneliness.

Chronic Loneliness: A Serious Condition

Chronic loneliness can be self-reinforcing without intervention. Lonely individuals display stronger functional communication in the default network, and greater microstructural integrity of its fornix pathway. Chronic loneliness is associated with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain, increased risk of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and mortality.

Health Impacts

Loneliness has been linked to depression, suicide, and a range of mental health issues including schizoid character type, poor sleep quality, and diminished restorative processes. A lack of social connections in children is directly linked to antisocial and self-destructive behavior, while loneliness can have a negative impact on learning and memory in both children and adults.

Interventions Against Loneliness

Therapy is often effective in addressing these issues. Short-term therapy typically occurs over 10-20 weeks, focusing on understanding the cause of the problem and exploring ways to feel connected. Doctors also prescribe antidepressants and may refer patients to group therapy or social prescription programs.

Pet Therapy

NGO and community-led projects aim to relieve loneliness, with thousands across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Pet therapy can ease feelings of depression and loneliness among patients. The presence of animals provides companionship and increased opportunities for socializing.

The Technological Solution

Technological solutions for loneliness include mindfulness apps, apps warning users about excessive online time, apps connecting people with real-life meetups, and AI-related technologies providing digital companionship. Research on the effectiveness of these interventions has yielded mixed results.

Cultural Influences

Studies have also linked religion to the reduction of loneliness, particularly among the elderly. Nostalgia has been found to counteract loneliness by increasing perceived social support. Effective intervention against emotional loneliness can be challenging but may be more successful for individuals in the early stages of loneliness.

A Literary Perspective

Loneliness has been a theme in literature since ancient times, initially equating with solitude until the late 18th century when it began to denote a negative condition. This shift may have been due to economic and social changes during the Enlightenment. Scientific study of loneliness was sparse until the latter half of the 20th century.

Modern Awareness

The topic gained attention through publications such as Joseph Harold Sheldon’s 1948 study, The Lonely Crowd by David Riesman in 1950, and Robert S. Weiss’s 1973 publication Loneliness: The experience of emotional and social isolation. Scientific interest in loneliness increased following Weiss’s work and the 1978 UCLA Loneliness Scale.

A Call to Action

Recent publications include ‘Americans are lonely and it’s killing them’ by Juan Rodriguez (2023) and Being Alone in Antiquity edited by Rafał Matuszewski (2021). The prevalence of loneliness is increasing worldwide, with potential negative effects on society as a whole. High levels of chronic loneliness can affect politics and effective mutually beneficial politics.

Relief from loneliness has long been a human motivator, with efforts to alleviate it becoming more common in the 20th century, including commercial, civic, and social initiatives across multiple disciplines. For example, in the UK, the Campaign to End Loneliness. The fight against loneliness is not just an individual battle but a societal one.