Loners at Risk of Early Death: Study | Uncover California

A study by Brigham Young University in Utah unveiled that loners die early. Being alone not only affects a person mentally but also physically, said the study researchers. The researchers evaluated data for the study subjects over a period of 35 years. Remaining lonely for 35 years was characterized by living alone and social isolation. In the study, three million participants were examined. After assessing, the researchers concluded that loneliness can lead to physical and mental damage.

Various factors that might affect the study include age, socioeconomic status, gender, and current illnesses. As per the analysis, with the controlled variables, loneliness led to 26% of the participants to die prematurely and isolation led to 29% of participants to die prematurely.

In the case of people who live alone, the risk of dying early was 32%. The researchers also found that younger individuals who are lonely having increased risk of dying than older people in their 60s. The study added that social media can add to loneliness and also reduces satisfaction.

Experts affirmed that being lonely does not mean being alone. Even when the person is surrounded by many people, some people still feel alone as loneliness depends on the subjective quality of relationship. The researchers said that there is a need to take social relationships more seriously.