For Longevity, Lessen Loneliness

A number of previous studies suggest health promoting effects of social connectedness.  Julianne Holt-Lunstad, from Brigham Young University (Utah, USA), and colleagues completed a meta-analysis involving published studies on loneliness, social isolation, and living alone, with a total enrollment of over 3 million subjects.  After adjusting for confounding factors, the researchers found that loneliness and social isolation may raise a person’s risks of premature death.  And the converse held true: that the existence of relationships provides a positive health effect. The study authors report that: “the influence of both objective and subjective social isolation on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality.”