It is known from scientific studies that people who are separated or divorced are more likely to suffer from depression. In fact, the lonelier a person is, the higher his or her mortality risk (risk of death), because social isolation has a comparable negative effect on health as the risk factors of smoking, obesity and hypertension (high blood pressure). People who are particularly fond of society suffer from the effects of a lack of social contacts. Since the loss of a spouse or relatives and friends increases with age, it is all the more important to maintain existing contacts. Stressful situations and events are better endured and coped with if one is not alone in them, but knows people at one’s side who give one support.
What causes social isolation?
One speaks of social isolation when one no longer participates in social life. However, this is not considered pathological (pathological) until feelings of loneliness and dejection develop as a result.
What contributes to people no longer participating adequately in social life?
Exogenous factors (e.g., belonging to a risk group) or endogenous factors (e.g., personality structure) cause people to no longer participate adequately in social life. Exogenous factors
- Single parents – double burden (employment and raising the child/children) and resulting lack of time for social life.
- Unemployed – no gainful employment; situation of failure (failure), stay away from public life out of shame.
- Chronically ill (including disabled) – restriction in the performance; possibly restriction in mobility, sensory perception (eg vision or hearing disorders), thus restrictions on communication (conversation) and thus reduced participation in social life.
- Seniors – age-related dissolution of social ties, e.g. retirement from professional life; loss of spouse; loss of friends (due to illness or death).
- People in need of care – Here, caregivers and social networks (relatives/family and friends, if still present, are the only bridge to social life.
- Suffering trauma – Trauma, especially in childhood, can reduce trust in society and thus lead to isolation.
- Part of an ethnic or LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) minority with discrimination (racism, homophobia or transphobia) of the same. This can make both participation in and confidence in society difficult.
Endogenous factors
- Free choice – Also, social isolation – whether in the context of a religious or personal life choice – can be a completely conscious and voluntary. Depending on the genetic constitution, satisfaction may well be felt in this isolation. For the majority of people, however, this fact does not apply.
- Negative self-image – Lack of self-esteem leads to the fact that these people do not perceive themselves as pleasant or positive and therefore avoid social contact for fear of impending rejection.
- Large deviations from normal intelligence quotient (IQ) – Both people with higher and lower IQs may have difficulty making or maintaining contact with people. This can also inevitably lead to social isolation.
- Selective negative perception – Isolated living increasingly perceive negative experiences in particular and fade out positive experiences.
- Lack of social skills – inability to articulate personal or social needs or not be able to enforce them. This also becomes the cause of negative social experiences (unsuccessful two-way relationship; low standing within a group, etc.).
Often, social isolation is the result of exogenous and endogenous factors, which subsequently leads to alcohol problems (alcohol abuse) or other addictive behaviors or even depression. The older you get, the more important it becomes for you to maintain your social contacts. Social resources as well as the presence of social ties or confidants promote health – stressful events can thus be absorbed.
Consequences of social isolation
- There is strong evidence of increased mortality (death rate) with social isolation and, with somewhat weaker evidence, with self-perceived loneliness in older people.Note: Studies in the context of the Covid pandemic also show that social isolation can have a negative impact on well-being. This can lead to neglect of physical activity, thus preventing a cardioprotective (“heart-protective”) lifestyle.
- Other consequences of social isolation may include depression, impaired sleep quality, and increased cognitive decline.
