Loneliness is bad for brains (community isolation)

[Magical Realist]

Poverty and poor health were ruled out of the result attributed to loneliness. Neither were ever conflated with social isolation.

So poverty and poor health were NOT ruled out for social isolation. Got it.

[Syne]

Poverty and poor health were ruled out of the result attributed to loneliness. Neither were ever conflated with social isolation.

So poverty and poor health were NOT ruled out for social isolation. Got it.

What part of this do you not understand?

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.
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shot...rtens-life

It was presumed that loneliness caused shortened lifespan.
But lonely people likely suffered from poverty or poor health.
Removing those results no longer showed loneliness to be a cause.
Those in poverty or poor health already removed, social isolation was the only remaining cause, "regardess of income or health status".

If you can't understand that, I'm forced to concede that your comprehension just isn't up to the simple task.

Oh well, I guess you're just that afraid of the results of your own social isolation. Buck up, little buddy.

[Magical Realist]

Oh well, I guess you're just that afraid of the results of your own social isolation. Buck up, little buddy. Wink

Like I said, I get plenty of socialization thru the internet and social media and my phone. I'm in fantastic health getting an annual physical every year. I accrue a comfortable income and live a very low stress life not having to work. Happy to disappoint.

[Syne]

Oh well, I guess you're just that afraid of the results of your own social isolation. Buck up, little buddy.  Wink

Like I said, I get plenty of socialization thru the internet and social media and my phone. I'm in fantastic health getting an annual physical every year.  I accrue a comfortable income and live a very low stress life not having to work. Happy to disappoint.

Again:

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

The internet and social media and your phone "may not have the health benefits of direct contact with other people".
None of those will "push you to go see a doctor if you are having symptoms like chest pain" or call 911 if you collapse.

No disappointment at all. Glad to hear you're taking care of yourself. But not all health emergencies can be foreseen. That guy in his twenties had no warning of a stroke and could have easily died before he was found. Try to get out occasionally, little buddy. Meet the neighbors.

[Magical Realist]

The internet and social media and your phone "may not have the health benefits of direct contact with other people".

Socializing is socializing whether it's thru sound waves or text on a screen. It's the same emotionally satisfying experience. Actually socializing online allows a deeper sharing of one's own thoughts and feelings on broad issues. How many talk to their relatives in real life like they talk to users in a discussion group? Not many..

None of those will "push you to go see a doctor if you are having symptoms like chest pain" or call 911 if you collapse.

Loners tend to be more educated about the signs of a heart attack, stroke, or any other sudden condition. And cellphones now make it a cinch to call 911. Technology has literally removed all the risk that once existed in living alone and single.

[Syne]

The internet and social media and your phone "may not have the health benefits of direct contact with other people".

Socializing is socializing whether it's thru sound waves or text on a screen. It's the same emotionally satisfying experience. Actually socializing online allows a deeper sharing of one's own thoughts and feelings on broad issues. How many talk to their relatives in real life like they talk to users in a discussion group? Not many..

Some people socialize with more than just family.
And I haven't seen any mortality studies done on "a deeper sharing of one's own thoughts and feelings on broad issues". Even married people with greater longevity often don't do that.

None of those will "push you to go see a doctor if you are having symptoms like chest pain" or call 911 if you collapse.

Loners tend to be more educated about the signs of a heart attack, stroke, or any other sudden condition. And cellphones now make it a cinch to call 911. Technology has literally removed all the risk that once existed in living alone and single.

Again, an unforeseen stroke could cause aphasia, making a cellphone gibberish. And if loners were really so much better off, this study would not have linked mortality to social isolation.

But I know interacting with real people can be scary and daunting, and I can understand why you'd feel the desire to justify your need to protect yourself. No one faults you for feeling vulnerable and insecure in real life. I would only encourage you to experience more real life. Baby steps, little buddy.

[Magical Realist]

Some people socialize with more than just family

Some of the best socializing there is is with your relatives. Maybe not intellectually, but as a deeper emotional bonding. Sorry I touched a nerve there!

And I haven't seen any mortality studies done on "a deeper sharing of one's own thoughts and feelings on broad issues". Even married people with greater longevity often don't do that.

You're the one ascribing magical powers to socializing. I'm merely showing how socializing extends far beyond just small talk with aquaintances or even living with a spouse.

And if loners were really so much better off, this study would not have linked mortality to social isolation.

Depends on the socially isolated. Is it seniors living alone, or young to middle age singles living alone. Pretty sure they'd get different results for these different groups.

In any case, like I said, socializing has been transformed by the internet and social media nowadays to such an extent that living alone no longer equates to being unsociable. That can only work against the conclusions of this very narrow sighted study. We're all doin fine out here. The world is at our fingertips, in spite of the ever looming threat of... what was it again?...aphasia? lol!

[Syne]

Some people socialize with more than just family

Some of the best socializing there is is with your relatives. Sorry I touched a nerve there!

LOL! "More than just family" does not mean "no family". Again, your reading comprehension failing you spectacularly.

And if loners were really so much better off, this study would not have linked mortality to social isolation.

Depends on the socially isolated. Is it seniors living alone, or young to middle age singles living alone. Pretty sure they'd get different results for these different groups.

The latter eventually become the former. You do know that, right? O_o

In any case, like I said, socializing has been transformed by the internet and social media nowadays to such an extent that living alone no longer equates to being unsociable. That can only work against the conclusions of this very narrow sighted study. We're all doin fine out here. The world is at our fingertips, in spite of the ever looming threat of... what was it again?...aphasia? lol!

Again, that study said it had nothing to do with being lonely. Socializing and social isolation are not mutually exclusive, and it's only the latter that shortens lifespan. Social isolation is spending "very little time with friends and family, or at social events". Electronic communication cannot provide everything real life contact does. Or has it been so long that you've forgotten? You know, since you're conflating the two. Real life involves reading social cues and empathizing with unspoken feelings. It's a dynamic interplay that demands presence.

You might think about getting one of those medical alert pendants to wear around you neck. You never know.

[Magical Realist]

Social isolation is spending "very little time with friends and family, or at social events". Electronic communication cannot provide everything real life contact does.

Sure it can. Periodic phone calls and facebook time provides daily contact with people practically instantaneously and even in the case of an emergency. And like you just realized, there's those life alerts. So your whole concept of being socially isolated needs a 2018 upgrade. As if 911 doesn't know to respond to a caller who is speaking gibberish. Welcome to our new technologically connected society. Physical isolation is not the deathbringer it used to be.

[Syne]

Social isolation is spending "very little time with friends and family, or at social events". Electronic communication cannot provide everything real life contact does.

Sure it can. Periodic phone calls and facebook time provides daily contact with people practically instantaneously and even in the case of an emergency. And like you just realized, there's those life alerts. So your whole concept of being socially isolated needs a 2018 upgrade. As if 911 doesn't know to respond to a caller who is speaking gibberish. Welcome to our new technologically connected society. Physical isolation is not the deathbringer it used to be.

No it can't. And it's sad that it's been so long for you that you no longer remember the difference.

I'm glad you feel like you have all medical contingencies covered, but I'd still advise a medical alert for the unforeseen. Calling and face-timing people do not cover all the benefits of actually being around people. People having heart-attacks are often too incapacitated to find a potentially life-saving aspirin, people having strokes quickly lose consciousness and can suffer from aphasia, and people present are always closer than emergency responders (even with a medical alert). All these add up to better odds of surviving a medical emergency.