What are the Two Strongest Predictors of Longevity? Could Loneliness and Social Isolation be Your Greatest Health Challenges?
- Oct 15, 2024
- 4 min read
A simple google search will yield plenty about what it takes to be well: Avoiding smoking, heavy drinking, and illicit drugs; Getting enough exercise ; Maintaining a healthy weight; Managing stress; and Getting restorative sleep, to name just a few factors. Most all of us have heard those recommendations throughout our lifetime, so it might surprise you that the two most predictive factors associated with living a long, healthy life have nothing to do with any of those things!
SOCIAL CONNECTION AND LONGEVITY
According to the research of Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience and Director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University, while lifestyle factors such as exercising, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight are important, they rank far below the two most important factors associated with living a long life. Her research shows that feeling connected to other people (3 intimate relationships are the ideal), and being surrounded by people in our day to day lives (socially integrated versus socially isolated) are the two most predictive factors associated with longevity! In other words, if you want to live a long, healthy life, you have to be connected to other people!
DO MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD FEEL CONNECTED?
According to a 2022-2023 Meta-Gallup survey of more than 140,000 people from 142 countries (representing about 77% of the world’s adult population), 24% of people aged 15 and older reported feeling "very" or "fairly" lonely, with young adults, age 19 to 29, experiencing the highest rates of loneliness. According to this survey, across the globe, men and women experience loneliness to an equal degree.
LONELINESS IN OUR COUNTRY
In the US, a recent Kaiser Family Survey found that 22% of US adults reported being "always or often lonely or socially isolated". "The survey also found that while most Americans (58%) view the increased use of technology as a major reason why people feel lonely and socially isolated", those who actually reported feeling lonely or socially isolated were divided on the impact of social media on their experiences related to connection: About 31% of those individuals reported that using social media such as Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter improved feelings of loneliness and social isolation, while 27% of those surveyed felt that social media worsened feelings of loneliness and isolation.
HOW DOES LONELINESS AFFECT HEALTH?
Recent research has clearly confirmed the devastating impact that loneliness and social isolation have on health, so much so, that the World health Organization and the US Surgeon General have issued advisory reports and established initiatives that span from 2023 to 2030 to address the loneliness epidemic. The US Surgeon General's advisory report states the following: “Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a country that’s healthier, more resilient, less lonely, and more connected.
"The physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Additionally, lacking social connection increases risk of premature death by more than 60%."
Further, "Americans who feel lonely or socially isolated often report negative impacts on their mental (58%) and physical (55%) health, their personal relationships (49%) and ability to do their job (33%). Some also say it has led them to think about harming themselves (31%) or committing a violent act (15%)." (Kaiser Family Survey).
LONELINESS VERSUS SOCIAL ISOLATION
If you peruse the research on this subject, you might find that this health crisis of "disconnection" is both a crisis of "loneliness", as well as a crisis of "social isolation". "Loneliness" refers to the subjective feeling of being alone, or disconnected from other people, regardless of how many people are actually around . "Social isolation" refers to having little access to others. A person that lives alone and avoids a great deal of interaction with other people would be considered to be socially isolated. Both loneliness and social isolation have serious health consequences. People that are lonely, even though they might be surrounded by people, and people that are socially isolated , even if they do not feel lonely, are BOTH 26-29% more likely to die an early death as compared to those who are not lonely or isolated from others. The research is clear: We need to FEEL CONNECTED, and we need to BE SURROUNDED in order to flourish!
WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO BEGIN COMBATTING LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION?
According to a 2023 Meta-Analysis reviewing strategies for addressing social isolation and loneliness in older adults, four basic categories of intervention emerged as most optimal. They included: Group-based social activities such as Veterans Groups or Cooking Clubs; Support Groups with educational elements such as Recovery Groups or Weight Management groups; Recreational activities like golfing, hiking or dancing; and Training or use of information and communication technologies, such as learning how to use Zoom or Facetime to stay connected to others.
MINDFUL MOVEMENT TO IMPROVE SOCIAL ISOLATION!
Come check out our Mindful Movement Group, Wednesdays at 11, EST! We have ALL of those elements: Group social activity; Support with an educational element; Recreation in the form of dance; and Training in the management of information technologies (our class is over zoom)! We are on a sliding scale and offer free and reduced-cost classes! Just click the link below!
Disclaimer: This BLOG is for Educational Purposes, Only. This information provided is educational and informational in nature and is made only as general information. The information does not establish a patient-provider relationship, establish a standard of care, or offer medical, dietary, or therapeutic care, advice, opinion, diagnosis, or treatment. This information does not replace independent professional or medical judgment and should not be relied upon as medical, psychological, or other professional advice of any kind or nature whatsoever. This information should not be used for diagnosing or treating any mental or physical health problem or disease. You are solely responsible for any action taken based on your interpretation of this information and you are responsible for your own health care decision-making by obtaining any necessary consultations with appropriately licensed health care professionals such as physicians and psychologists.
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