With the rise of coronavirus, global health experts are urging people to stay inside, not gather, and stop attending school. As social creatures, these instructions can be incredibly difficult and can have many adverse effects. I know that I have struggled to adjust to not seeing my friends constantly and spending most of the day alone. Without being able to touch the people around me, I am constantly looking for our dog to cuddle with. This difficulty to adjust is not unusual. In fact, social isolation is often seen as a cruel punishment. Social isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, fear of others, and negative self-esteem. Over time, it’s not just your mood that changes. Without using the parts of the brain which are necessary for social interactions, the brain can lose grey matter density and neurons can shrink. People may even struggle with cognitive decline and memory loss.
Approximately 1 out of every 4 elderly people in the US struggle with social isolation. With decreased hearing, children moving out, the end of working and a lack of ability to go out, they are at an increased risk. Those who face social isolation are at an increased risk of poor health and even death.
For children and teens who are isolated, development can be permanently damaged. They are more susceptible to mental health problems and are more likely to struggle in school. You’ve likely heard that millennials are considered to be the “loneliest generation,” as communication has moved online and mental illness has swept the world.
The American Psychological Association finds that 1/2 of American adults feel lonely sometimes or always and suggest that loneliness can have the same level of adverse health effects as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
With all of these negative effects, psychologists are trying to identify why so many people feel so lonely. Those who are displeased with their family situation are 4 times as likely to feel lonely sometimes – all the time compared to individuals with healthy family relationships. Additionally, those who lack a community, whether that be a church, friend group, or family are most likely to be isolated and thus struggle with chronic loneliness. But even for individuals with a healthy family life and a supporting community, chronic loneliness can still infiltrate. In fact, many people feel lonely even when they’re sitting in a room full of friends. For those individuals, there could be genetic or neurobiological factors putting them at risk for depression. Additionally, past situations (such as childhood bullying) could continue to affect them.
Thankfully, the social isolation that is sweeping the world is temporary. While not as great as in-person communication, people can use technology to communicate. Additionally, this break from the usual, intense social life that most college students live in could be beneficial to reflect on emotions and mental health. It is certainly a difficult and unprecedented situation, but if we all stand together (but not literally) and let each other know that we are still there for one another, we will get through this.