{"id":950,"date":"2023-05-30T18:41:12","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T13:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bristolescortgirls.co.uk\/blog\/new-research-dispels-3-myths-about-loneliness\/"},"modified":"2023-05-30T18:41:12","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T13:11:12","slug":"new-research-dispels-3-myths-about-loneliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bristolescortgirls.co.uk\/blog\/new-research-dispels-3-myths-about-loneliness\/","title":{"rendered":"New Research Dispels 3 Myths About Loneliness"},"content":{"rendered":"

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What is loneliness? What triggers it? And what are some myths and misconceptions about it? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To answer these questions, I present a selective summary of a recent paper<\/a> <\/span>on coping with loneliness, by Shrum and colleagues.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What do we mean by loneliness?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Loneliness<\/a> refers to<\/a> an unpleasant experience associated with the feeling that one does not belong or has unsatisfactory intimate relationships.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike social isolation<\/a>, loneliness is a <\/span><\/span>subjective<\/em><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>state<\/em><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>So,<\/span><\/span><\/span> loneliness can occur even if <\/span><\/span><\/span>one is <\/span><\/span><\/span>surrounded by people all the time (at home, in public, at work) if he or she<\/span><\/span><\/span> does not feel <\/span><\/span><\/span>with <\/span><\/span>them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We may cope with loneliness in a variety of healthy and unhealthy ways\u2014reaching out to others, participating in social activities, shopping<\/a>, drug use, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pathological versus normal loneliness<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

It is important to note that transient<\/em><\/span><\/span> feelings of isolation and abandonment (e.g., during the COVID-19<\/a> lockdowns) are common and often not a cause for concern. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The same cannot be said about severe<\/em> or <\/span><\/span>chronic loneliness<\/em><\/span><\/span>, which is associated with negative social and health outcomes, such as low self-esteem<\/a>, emotion regulation<\/a> difficulties, <\/span><\/span>fear<\/a> of missing out (FOMO<\/a>), <\/span><\/span><\/span>acute and chronic <\/span><\/span><\/a>pain<\/a>, heart disease<\/a>, and drug abuse<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is particularly alarming due to the high prevalence of severe loneliness and social isolation. To illustrate, one in five Americans<\/a> report never<\/em> or rarely<\/em> feeling close to others.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Loneliness triggers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Loneliness, whether transient or chronic, can occur for a variety of reasons, many of which are related to <\/span><\/span><\/span>life transitions<\/span><\/span><\/span> or other events that significantly affect relationships. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Demographic and situational factors, like living alone or being chronically rejected and bullied, are also related to loneliness and mental illness.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now, having reviewed the meaning and triggers of loneliness, let us discuss common myths about loneliness.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Myth 1: The main cause of loneliness is a lack of relationships.<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

This assumption is incorrect. It is not so much a lack of relationships but the absence of quality social connections that is associated with loneliness. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, research<\/a> shows that to prevent feelings of loneliness, one need not be part of a large social circle or spend much time with others. If one is able to establish and maintain just a couple of healthy and intimate relationships, that may be sufficient to meet the need for love, esteem, and belonging.<\/p>\n

Myth 2: It is mostly older folks who experience loneliness.<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Loneliness is a problem for older individuals, but the problem has been exaggerated<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This misconception is understandable. After all, older people are more likely to be exposed to stressful<\/a> life transitions and other triggers of loneliness, such as retirement<\/a>, widowhood, or moving to a nursing home.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, research suggests the relationship between loneliness and age is weak. Only the very old (i.e. those over age 85) experience significantly more loneliness than the general population.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, <\/span><\/span><\/span> children and younger adults, compared to people over 65 but younger than 85, feel just as alone or more so. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Loneliness Essential Reads<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Research indicates a significant percentage of young individuals report having no friends at all, and 30% of Millennials<\/a> report feeling lonely either often or always.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Myth 3: Only social misfits are lonely<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Think of the prototypical lonely person. It is likely that you are imagining someone whose inability to fit in or belong is related to <\/span><\/span>internal factors<\/span><\/span>. Two examples are:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Some examples of such events are residential relocation, changing schools, starting a new job, getting married, going to college, the death of a loved one (e.g., parent, spouse, best friend, pet), getting divorced<\/a>, migrating to a new country, and social crises (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n