Below are a few of the many articles I collected during my research.
Size of Social Circle Tied to Women’s Heart Health
“More socially isolated women also had more severe narrowing in their heart arteries at the beginning of the study, as well as higher rates of smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes. Women with the fewest family and social ties were much more likely than other study patients to have an annual income below $20,000, and low income was strongly linked to an increased risk of death over the study period”. …more
Study shows lower immune response for lonely students
Certified nurse practitioner Anita Barkin, DrPH, a co-author of the study and director of Carnegie Mellon’s Student Health Service, says she’s not surprised by the finding, given that she and her colleagues have noted that “students who are lonely and feel less connected and supported seem to visit health services more frequently. They also appear to have longer recovery times when they experience acute, episodic illness.” …more
People with Many Friends Outlive Those with Few Friends
“Most of us know from experience that having good friends can make our lives richer, but research now shows that our friends may also increase our longevity”. …more
Social Isolation Linked To Alzheimer’s
Social isolation has already been shown to be linked to dementia but this is the first time researchers have looked at how alone people actually felt. The team found that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease increased by 51% for each point of the loneliness score. ...more
Singles living alone at higher risk of heart disease than those with partners
“People who live alone are twice as likely to have serious heart disease as those who live with a partner, according to new research”. …more
Only Half The Population Has Even One Confidant Outside The Family
“From 1985 to 2004, “the number of people saying there is no one with whom they discuss important matters nearly tripled.” Now, 24.6 percent report they have no confidants, family or non-family — that’s one in four Americans. Another 19.6 percent say they have just one confidant. That means 43 percent of Americans have either no confidants or just one, a slice that has doubled since 1985.”…more
Smart Enough To Make Ourselves Sick
“When it comes to stress-related diseases, social isolation may play an even more significant role than social rank or personality. Up until 15 years ago, the most striking thing we found was that, if you’re a baboon, you don’t want to be low ranking, because your health is going to be lousy,” he explained. “But what has become far clearer, and probably took a decade’s worth of data, is the recognition that protection from stress-related disease is most powerfully grounded in social connectedness, and that’s far more important than rank.” …more
New animal research sheds light on the intricate ways chronic stress and loneliness affect health
“The increase in morbidity with social isolation is equal to that of cigarette smoking,” notes Martha McClintock, PhD, a University of Chicago psychology professor who researches social isolation and stress. …more
What Makes Us Happy?
Money? Beauty? Youth? Surprisingly the answer to these is no. The number one external factor effecting our level of happiness has been shown to be our relationships. ...more (pdf)
