Loneliness is bad for brains (community isolation)

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/lone...in-changes

EXCERPT: Mice yanked out of their community and held in solitary isolation show signs of brain damage. [...] It’s not known whether similar damage happens in the brains of isolated humans. If so, the results have implications for the health of people who spend much of their time alone, including the estimated tens of thousands of inmates in solitary confinement in the United States and elderly people in institutionalized care facilities. The new results, along with other recent brain studies, clearly show that for social species, isolation is damaging, says neurobiologist Huda Akil of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “There is no question that this is changing the basic architecture of the brain,” Akil says....

MORE: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/lone...in-changes

Quote:If so, the results have implications for the health of people who spend much of their time alone,

I spend much of my time alone. I wonder if this study takes into account the mere lack of mental stimulation for lonely people or solitary confinement prisoners. I have the internet, discussion forums, facebook, and TV. Given these resources, I feel totally fine being alone. I have social activity but on my terms. There are no annoying commitments to be with someone or to go out and do things together. One must distinguish the physical state of aloneness and the emotional reaction to that called loneliness. For an introvert alone time is energizing just as for an extrovert social time is energizing.

Maybe Isolation, Not Loneliness, Shortens Life

Loneliness hurts, but social isolation can kill you. That's the conclusion of a study of more than 6,500 people in the U.K.

The study, by a team at University College London, comes after decades of research showing that both loneliness and infrequent contact with friends and family can, independently, shorten a person's life. The scientists expected to find that the combination of these two risk factors would be especially dangerous.

"We were thinking that people who were socially isolated but also felt lonely might be at particularly high risk," says Andrew Steptoe, a professor of psychology at University College London.
...
And Steptoe says he was surprised by the result. "Both social isolation and loneliness appeared initially to be associated with a greater risk of dying," he says. "But it was really the isolation which was more important."

At first, it looked like people who reported greater levels of loneliness were more likely to die, Steptoe says. But closer analysis showed that these people were also more likely to have other risk factors, like being poor and having existing health problems. Once those factors were taken into account, the extra risk associated with loneliness pretty much disappeared, Steptoe says.

But people who spent very little time with friends and family, or at social events, were more likely to die regardless of income or health status, the team reports in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Quote:But closer analysis showed that these people were also more likely to have other risk factors, like being poor and having existing health problems.

Thankfully correlation doesn't equal causation. IOW, being alone doesn't necessarily result in one being poor or having bad health.

http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/100/...sation.htm

Truth be told, I get more social satisfaction sharing my inner thoughts and feelings online than I do physically being around people.

(Nov 8, 2018 07:36 PM)Magical Realist Wrote:

Quote:If so, the results have implications for the health of people who spend much of their time alone,

I spend much of my time alone. I wonder if this study takes into account the mere lack of mental stimulation for lonely people or solitary confinement prisoners. I have the internet, discussion forums, facebook, and TV. Given these resources, I feel totally fine being alone. I have social activity but on my terms. There are no annoying commitments to be with someone or to go out and do things together. One must distinguish the physical state of aloneness and the emotional reaction to that called loneliness. For an introvert alone time is energizing just as for an extrovert social time is energizing.

Yah, these studies do need to refine down to varying personal details when eventually applied to people. (Did old-school penpal correspondences help reclusive poets and authors of the past? Will internet socializing and addictive smartphone chatting be an effective substitute for "fewer physical friends" Generation-Z?)

Research also needs to take into account different standards and evaluations of "intelligence". We know this one Ambrose Monk-like hermit who was once a professor at a college. He's still seems plenty sharp in terms speaking and writing about subjects, but has definitely taken a tumble in navigating everyday-oriented conversations (in person) and making practical decisions in the world outside his secluded, cluttered home environment.

Just contacting him by phone to check up on him is a task (you have to write him a letter to inform him what date and time you will be calling, so he can plug his landline phone back in that he normally has wire-disconnected for fear of strangers calling him). It would probably help him some to at least mingle via web or mobile networks, but he's a dinosaur with respect to digital technology. Not sure he even carries out postal-mail correspondences with former associates (though he definitely writes us when he needs something).

~

(Nov 8, 2018 08:24 PM)Magical Realist Wrote:

Quote:But closer analysis showed that these people were also more likely to have other risk factors, like being poor and having existing health problems.

Thankfully correlation doesn't equal causation. IOW, being alone doesn't necessarily result in one being poor or having bad health.

http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/100/...sation.htm

Truth be told, I get more social satisfaction sharing my inner thoughts and feelings online than I do physically being around people.

"At first, it looked like people who reported greater levels of loneliness were more likely to die, Steptoe says. But closer analysis showed that these people were also more likely to have other risk factors, like being poor and having existing health problems. Once those factors were taken into account, the extra risk associated with loneliness pretty much disappeared, Steptoe says."

IOW, only loneliness was correlated to other risk factors, e.g. being poor and having health problems. Once those factors were accounted for, the only associated risk left was social isolation. If you don't feel loneliness, there's no reason to suspect correlated risk factors. But social isolation is not correlated to loneliness or other risk factors at all. Social isolation ("very little time with friends and family, or at social events", i.e. not physically being around people), alone, is a predictor of shorter lifespan. "Social satisfaction" gauged by a sense of loneliness has nothing to do with it.

(Nov 8, 2018 09:35 PM)Syne Wrote:

(Nov 8, 2018 08:24 PM)Magical Realist Wrote:

Quote:But closer analysis showed that these people were also more likely to have other risk factors, like being poor and having existing health problems.

Thankfully correlation doesn't equal causation. IOW, being alone doesn't necessarily result in one being poor or having bad health.

http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/100/...sation.htm

Truth be told, I get more social satisfaction sharing my inner thoughts and feelings online than I do physically being around people.

"At first, it looked like people who reported greater levels of loneliness were more likely to die, Steptoe says. But closer analysis showed that these people were also more likely to have other risk factors, like being poor and having existing health problems. Once those factors were taken into account, the extra risk associated with loneliness pretty much disappeared, Steptoe says."

IOW, only loneliness was correlated to other risk factors, e.g. being poor and having health problems. Once those factors were accounted for, the only associated risk left was social isolation. If you don't feel loneliness, there's no reason to suspect correlated risk factors. But social isolation is not correlated to loneliness or other risk factors at all. Social isolation ("very little time with friends and family, or at social events", i.e. not physically being around people), alone, is a predictor of shorter lifespan. "Social satisfaction" gauged by a sense of loneliness has nothing to do with it.

Once again, mere correlation of poverty and bad health to being alone. No evidence of causation at all. Once those factors are removed, there is no risk for early death just by spending alot of time alone. That's complete bullshit. The amount of stress a voluntary loner relieves himself of is enough to probably increase his lifespan.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180228...or-a-loner

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/...new-review

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...eing-alone

(Nov 8, 2018 09:40 PM)Magical Realist Wrote:

(Nov 8, 2018 09:35 PM)Syne Wrote:

"At first, it looked like people who reported greater levels of loneliness were more likely to die, Steptoe says. But closer analysis showed that these people were also more likely to have other risk factors, like being poor and having existing health problems. Once those factors were taken into account, the extra risk associated with loneliness pretty much disappeared, Steptoe says."

IOW, only loneliness was correlated to other risk factors, e.g. being poor and having health problems. Once those factors were accounted for, the only associated risk left was social isolation. If you don't feel loneliness, there's no reason to suspect correlated risk factors. But social isolation is not correlated to loneliness or other risk factors at all. Social isolation ("very little time with friends and family, or at social events", i.e. not physically being around people), alone, is a predictor of shorter lifespan. "Social satisfaction" gauged by a sense of loneliness has nothing to do with it.

Once again, mere correlation of poverty and bad health to being alone. No evidence of causation at all. Once those factors are removed, there is no risk for early death just by spending alot of time alone. That's complete bullshit. The amount of stress a voluntary loner relieves himself of is enough to probably increase his lifespan.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180228...or-a-loner

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/...new-review

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...eing-alone

You don't seem to be reading/comprehending what was written. Once poverty and poor health are removed from the results, loneliness has no impact on longevity. They are not saying that poverty or poor health are correlated with loneliness. Quite the opposite. They are saying that poverty and poor health account for the entire effect previously presumed to be caused by loneliness. No correlation at all, just mistaken cause.

But loneliness is not the same as social isolation. Social isolation does not correlate to poverty or poor health either, but it does correlate to shortened lifespan. This is why married people live longer.

Anecdote and justification for their own admitted isolation aren't going to move the needle against actual studies.

But people who spent very little time with friends and family, or at social events, were more likely to die regardless of income or health status, the team reports in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
...
"People ... may think that they're connected to other people because they're on Facebook," Uchino says. So they may not report feeling lonely. But that sort of connection, he says, may not have the health benefits of direct contact with other people.
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shot...rtens-life

Look, I'm an introvert too. That's not a personal condemnation, so I don't know why you're acting all defensive. Just accept the fact that you're going to die, and that your lack of personal interaction may effect your longevity. Don't throw a hissy fit over facts you don't like.

(Nov 9, 2018 01:14 AM)Syne Wrote:

(Nov 8, 2018 09:40 PM)Magical Realist Wrote:

(Nov 8, 2018 09:35 PM)Syne Wrote:

"At first, it looked like people who reported greater levels of loneliness were more likely to die, Steptoe says. But closer analysis showed that these people were also more likely to have other risk factors, like being poor and having existing health problems. Once those factors were taken into account, the extra risk associated with loneliness pretty much disappeared, Steptoe says."

IOW, only loneliness was correlated to other risk factors, e.g. being poor and having health problems. Once those factors were accounted for, the only associated risk left was social isolation. If you don't feel loneliness, there's no reason to suspect correlated risk factors. But social isolation is not correlated to loneliness or other risk factors at all. Social isolation ("very little time with friends and family, or at social events", i.e. not physically being around people), alone, is a predictor of shorter lifespan. "Social satisfaction" gauged by a sense of loneliness has nothing to do with it.

Once again, mere correlation of poverty and bad health to being alone. No evidence of causation at all. Once those factors are removed, there is no risk for early death just by spending alot of time alone. That's complete bullshit. The amount of stress a voluntary loner relieves himself of is enough to probably increase his lifespan.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180228...or-a-loner

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/...new-review

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...eing-alone

You don't seem to be reading/comprehending what was written. Once poverty and poor health are removed from the results, loneliness has no impact on longevity. They are not saying that poverty or poor health are correlated with loneliness. Quite the opposite. They are saying that poverty and poor health account for the entire effect previously presumed to be caused by loneliness. No correlation at all, just mistaken cause.

But loneliness is not the same as social isolation. Social isolation does not correlate to poverty or poor health either, but it does correlate to shortened lifespan. This is why married people live longer.

Anecdote and justification for their own admitted isolation aren't going to move the needle against actual studies.

But people who spent very little time with friends and family, or at social events, were more likely to die regardless of income or health status, the team reports in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
...
"People ... may think that they're connected to other people because they're on Facebook," Uchino says. So they may not report feeling lonely. But that sort of connection, he says, may not have the health benefits of direct contact with other people.
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shot...rtens-life

Look, I'm an introvert too. That's not a personal condemnation, so I don't know why you're acting all defensive. Just accept the fact that you're going to die, and that your lack of personal interaction may effect your longevity. Don't throw a hissy fit over facts you don't like.

So what's the cause of early death when poverty and health are ruled out of social isolation? Surely if they are positing causation instead of correlation then there must be an actual cause for reduced longevity that living alone precipitates? What is that? Noone being around to call 911 when you get sick or have an accident?

While we're on the subject, here's 12 more ways to shorten your lifespan that "science" came up with:

https://www.everydayhealth.com/senior-he...fe.aspx#02

(Nov 9, 2018 01:29 AM)Magical Realist Wrote:

(Nov 9, 2018 01:14 AM)Syne Wrote: You don't seem to be reading/comprehending what was written. Once poverty and poor health are removed from the results, loneliness has no impact on longevity. They are not saying that poverty or poor health are correlated with loneliness. Quite the opposite. They are saying that poverty and poor health account for the entire effect previously presumed to be caused by loneliness. No correlation at all, just mistaken cause.

But loneliness is not the same as social isolation. Social isolation does not correlate to poverty or poor health either, but it does correlate to shortened lifespan. This is why married people live longer.

Anecdote and justification for their own admitted isolation aren't going to move the needle against actual studies.

But people who spent very little time with friends and family, or at social events, were more likely to die regardless of income or health status, the team reports in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
...
"People ... may think that they're connected to other people because they're on Facebook," Uchino says. So they may not report feeling lonely. But that sort of connection, he says, may not have the health benefits of direct contact with other people.
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shot...rtens-life

Look, I'm an introvert too. That's not a personal condemnation, so I don't know why you're acting all defensive. Just accept the fact that you're going to die, and that your lack of personal interaction may effect your longevity. Don't throw a hissy fit over facts you don't like.

So what's the cause of early death when poverty and health are ruled out of social isolation? Surely if they are positing causation instead of correlation then there must be an actual cause for reduced longevity that living alone precipitates? What is that? Noone being around to call 911 when you get sick or have an accident?

Still not comprehending simple English I see. Poverty and poor health were ruled out of the result attributed to loneliness. Neither were ever conflated with social isolation.

Yes, if you had bothered to read the NPR article I posted, you would have seen that they surmised:

"It's not clear why social isolation is linked to mortality. But one possibility is that having other people around has practical benefits as you get older, Steptoe says. For example, they may push you to go see a doctor if you are having symptoms like chest pain, he says. And if you were to lose consciousness, they would call for help."

I once worked with a guy, in his twenties, who had a stroke and wasn't found for two days. He said he kept periodically regaining consciousness and crawling for his phone.