Medically reviewed in May 2022
Updated on May 12, 2022
There are different kinds of being alone. Some people are objectively socially isolated, in contact with few or no others. They may be alone by circumstance, or simply prefer to remain solitary.
Other people feel alone. They are lonely, no matter where they find themselves.
“Loneliness is a subjective experience; you might feel cut off from people even though you’re surrounded by them,” says Stephen Pinals, MD, a geriatric psychiatrist and Chairman of Psychiatry with Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. “That’s different from objective social isolation,” he adds. Social isolation can contribute to loneliness, but may not necessarily cause it.
Either way, both loneliness and social isolation can take a toll on your mental and physical well-being. Eventually, even the most introverted among us may experience health complications such as stress, heart disease, dementia, and more.
Loneliness and health
"Humans are highly social mammals. We wouldn’t have survived without our evolving social function,” says Dr. Pinals. “We know that loneliness reduces survival.”
He notes that people who are lonely may have:
- A less effective immune system
- Higher risk of coronary artery disease
- Higher risk of stroke
- Higher risk of hypertension
- Higher risk of dementia
- More stress hormones
These health issues can contribute to an increased risk of early mortality. A 2020 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that social isolation in adults aged 50 and older increased the risk of early death, comparing its effects to that of smoking, obesity, and a lack of physical activity. Loneliness was linked to higher risks of heart attack and stroke, as well as higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
At particular risk are older adults. More than a quarter of Americans age 65 or older—or 14.7 million out of 54.1 million people—live alone, according to the Administration for Community Living. That figure jumps to 42 percent for women aged 75 and older.
Seniors who live alone tend to become lonely more than those who live with others. Why? “Older adults are less mobile,” says Pinals, “and they may not have as much contact with family and friends.” Often, people become isolated or lonely because they’re chronically ill, have limited mobility, or a low income.
Loneliness is associated with poorer health for a number of reasons:
- People who are lonely generally have more unhealthy habits, such as smoking and alcohol use.
- They may not eat a well-rounded diet or get enough physical activity.
- Loneliness interferes with a good night’s sleep, which can compromise your immune system and put you at risk for heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
- Loneliness is a major stressor, a significant contributor to poor physical health.
- Depression and loneliness often feed into one another.
Fighting back against loneliness
Though mental health plays a large role, loneliness is a combination of perspective and circumstance. “Individuals who are socially isolated often choose that lifestyle and resist getting out and being social,” says Pinals.
Whether people choose to isolate themselves or their social networks are limited, it’s important to go out and see others. The internet may be able to help; multiple studies and reviews have suggested that going online can decrease loneliness in older adults.
Still, Pinals recommends real human contact as an antidote to loneliness. “Whether it’s going to church, the senior center or walking around the shopping mall, try to just be outside and away from home," he says. "Those who choose to stay in are at higher risk for all those poor outcomes.”
