Loneliness and Health: Why Connection Matters

We usually think about health in terms of food, movement and sleep. Relationships belong on that list too. Research has linked loneliness and social isolation with health, and the pattern shows up across many studies. This guide looks at what a large review found and at small ways to build connection. It is general education, not medical advice, and not a substitute for professional care.

A review of 70 studies

In 2015, Holt-Lunstad and colleagues published a meta-analysis in Perspectives on Psychological Science. It pooled 70 studies from 1980 to 2014 that followed more than three million people, and it asked whether loneliness, social isolation and living alone were linked to dying earlier. After accounting for other factors, the odds of dying during the follow-up were higher in each group.

• Social isolation: about 29 percent higher odds.
• Loneliness: about 26 percent higher odds.
• Living alone: about 32 percent higher odds.

The authors noted that the effects were comparable to other well-known risk factors, and that the links were stronger in people younger than 65. They also cautioned that the three measures are not interchangeable.

How to read this

• It is association, not proof. People who are isolated may also be sicker, less active or facing other hardships, and illness can lead to isolation too.
• Averages are not destinies. These numbers describe groups, not what will happen to one person.
• Being alone is not the same as feeling lonely. Plenty of people enjoy solitude, and plenty feel lonely in a crowd. Feeling disconnected is what the research focuses on.

Connection and healthy habits

Support from others can make habits easier to keep. We explore this in losing weight with friends, and a walking buddy or shared meal can turn a chore into something you look forward to. Our guides to your feed and your body image and taking a break from social media look at how online time can crowd out, or support, real connection.

Small steps that can help

• Start small. A short call, a message to an old friend or a chat with a neighbor all count.
• Build it into routines. A weekly walk, a class or a regular meal with someone makes connection automatic.
• Join something. A club, a volunteer group or a faith community adds shared purpose.
• Be present. Putting the phone away during a conversation helps it feel like real contact.
• Reflect. A few lines in your journal about who lifts your mood can show you where to invest. Our guide to gratitude journaling explains one approach.

When to reach out for help

If loneliness feels heavy or lasts, talking with a licensed professional can help, and many people find that therapy, support groups and community programs make a difference.

Sources

• Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, Stephenson D. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2015;10(2):227-237 (figures from the abstract and summaries; total participants are reported as over 3 million, with some sources citing 3.4 million).