Health Ramifications of Loneliness and Isolation - LPNI

Cries of “Stay home to stay safe” are heard daily on the airways.  Reactive loneliness is described by Amy Novotney as a loss, either by a death, divorce, or even moving to a new area (‘The Risks of Social Isolation’, Monitor on Psychology, May 2019).  She also described chronic loneliness as not having the resources or willingness to go out in public.  It seems that both types of loneliness and isolation are prevalent in every community.  Some see loneliness as the social and emotional equivalent of physical pain.  When we have pain, we generally seek to diminish it.  The current climate of socialization may discourage any socialization.

Many in the United States are having groceries, household goods, daily meals, and pet supplies shipped to their door.  This allows many to stay behind closed doors with “no touch” deliveries, furthering isolation, and loneliness.  Many desire to build home gyms or at-home exercise programs, contributing to self-imposed isolation.  Our health is at risk even though we are attempting to stay healthy.

Depression, decreased problem solving and reasoning, increased anxiety, and increased cognitive decline are a few of the mental health consequences.  Harrington and Sliwinski report that the older adult with comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, physical inactivity, and hearing loss are at a higher risk for developing dementia when socially isolated (https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/how-social-isolation-changes-the-brain August 2020).

Loneliness and social isolation can also be the cause of poor sleep quality, decreased heart function, impaired immunity (from increased inflammation), and obesity.  Increased smoking and alcohol use have also greatly increased.  The older adult is at a much higher risk for heart disease and stroke, and memory ability.

Social isolation and loneliness have been with us for many years.  This current state of encouraging most to stay home has vastly exacerbated the decline in health seen in many.

Hope Knight MS, RN

Oklahoma Parish Nurse District Representative