Social interactions are the hallmark of human growth, connection, and generally life itself. During these interactions, people form relationships with each other. The unpleasant feeling of perceived isolation when these connections lack and social isolation is known as loneliness. The individuals with these feelings desire to form intimate relationships with other individuals but fail at it. Loneliness leads to one feeling alone and unwanted (Beutel et al., 2017). Unlike solitude, one can feel lonely even in the company of crowds. Solitude, on the other hand, is a state of being physically separated from other people. The causes of social isolation and loneliness can be mental, emotional, social, and environmental under several factors. (Beutel et al., 2017) This paper review articles on the factors that contribute to loneliness and uses the data to develop a research question and hypothesis.
Prevalence
A survey done in 2018 by the economist and the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that up to 22% of American adults always felt lonely, and about 46% reported feeling lonely sometimes (Howe, 2019). With these in mind, it is clear that a large percentage of the United States population have felt lonely. The feeling of loneliness has also been related to initiating a cascade of events that lead to other conditions. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, DSM – V, classify loneliness as a symptom of depression (Hong & Tan, 2020). The World Health Organization then reported that depression was one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Research done in 2016 classifies loneliness as the number one fear of young adults. In this study, up to 42% of young women reporting fearing loneliness more than cancer (Howe, 2019). Reports have shown that loneliness even affects these individual’s productivity.
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Literature Review on Factors Associated with Isolation and Loneliness
Since loneliness is an active contributor to reduced work output and productivity, it is essential to examine the related factors to understand them and develop the ideal mitigation strategies. Knowing the available literature on these factors will also assist in the development of an informed hypothesis. Following a review of three articles, this section outlines the factors contributing to loneliness.
Age
Age defines one’s level of maturity and the possible development milestones they may be undergoing. During childhood, one is mostly supported by their parents or guardians, but they begin to seek independence and achieve this as they grow older. According to most researchers, loneliness was higher during the adolescent stage, then tappers down as one grow older and increases when one nears adulthood (Beutel et al., 2017). This was mainly due to the detachment from familiar friends and relatives, especially when moving to college (Shovestul et al., 2020). Shovestul et al. (2020) report that age accounted for up to 88% of the variables that contribute to loneliness. In adults over 60 years, up to half are at risk of social isolation, and a third have experienced an episode of loneliness. Poor health due to old age, loss of loved ones, and dispersal of the family are some of the primary triggers of loneliness in old age.
Social and Intimate Connections
Social isolation and loneliness are experienced depending on the individual's relation to their available social networks. Humans are social beings and therefore thrive in the Presence of social connections. Social relationships and social interactions are essential in achieving emotional fulfillment (Beutel et al., 2017). Individuals in intimate relationships experienced loneliness less often compared to those who were not. Those with smaller social networks experienced loneliness in late adulthood (Shovestul et al., 2020). Social integration perceived social support and acceptance greatly influenced loneliness (Fakoya, McCorry & Donnelly, 2020). The gradual loss of loved ones and individuals once connected with is a factor influencing loneliness in the older adults.
Distress
Researchers have reported that stress has had positive relations with loneliness. A condition like depression which may result from exposure to stressful or traumatic experiences leads to loneliness. Loneliness is classified as one of the symptoms of depression (Fakoya, McCorry & Donnelly, 2020). Other mental health conditions lead to social isolation related to the individual’s inability to connect with others (Beutel et al., 2017). People with depression due to feeling unworthy or unwanted will separate themselves from the larger population. Those suffering other mental health conditions feel that they do not conform to the societal norms, causing then to socially isolate themselves. During adolescence and old age, loneliness is mainly fueled by stress. In adolescence, one may lose their social networks when moving to a new location like college (Shovestul et al., 2020). In adulthood, the stress resulting in loneliness may be due to loss of social network, children moving away, and losing some of their former abilities to old age.
Research question
How does age, social connection, and distress influence social isolation and loneliness? This research question seeks to understand how the various factors related to social isolation and loneliness contribute to them.
Preliminary Hypothesis
Lack of social connection leads to increased levels of social isolation and loneliness. In the above hypothesis, social connection is the independent variable, and social isolation and loneliness are the dependent variables.
Conclusion
Humans are social beings and are, therefore, grossly affected by a lack of social connections. Every day, humans depend on each other to foster their sense of worth and belonging. Social isolation and loneliness, which result from this, have severe implications on people’s productivity. Therefore, it is essential to understand the factors influencing them to understand how best to manage them. Understanding the research questions and having a hypothesis relevant to social isolation, loneliness, and the factors affecting them is vital in directing research.
References
Beutel, M. E., Klein, E. M., Brähler, E., Reiner, I., Jünger, C., Michal, M., Wiltink, J., Wild, P. S., Münzel, T., Lackner, K. J., & Tibubos, A. N. (2017). Loneliness in the general population: prevalence, determinants and relations to mental health. BMC Psychiatry , 17 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1262-x
Fakoya, O. A., McCorry, N. K., & Donnelly, M. (2020). Loneliness and social isolation interventions for older adults: a scoping review of reviews. BMC Public Health , 20 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8251-6
Hong, R. Y., & Tan, Y. L. (2020). DSM-5 personality traits and cognitive risks for depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Personality and Individual Differences , 110041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110041
Howe, N. (2019, May 3). Millennials And The Loneliness Epidemic . Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe/2019/05/03/millennials-and-the-loneliness-epidemic/?sh=4f70fafc7676
Shovestul, B., Han, J., Germine, L., & Dodell-Feder, D. (2020). Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors. PLOS ONE , 15 (2), e0229087. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229087
