As you become older, loneliness can harm both your health and your mental wellbeing.
According to a recent study, the negative consequences of loneliness compound over time and can speed up the effects of stress and aging on your body. Researchers compared stress levels between middle-aged and older people (average age 57) and college freshmen (average age 19) and discovered that while lonely people reported the same number of significant life events as others, they were more likely to report chronic stressors and unpleasant childhood events.
They discovered that older persons who were lonely had higher blood pressure readings than those who were not lonely. With the college group, this was not seen. The older group of lonely persons also had much higher levels of the stress hormone adrenaline. Researchers claim that greater adrenaline levels indicate that lonely individuals live in a state of increased alertness, which may have long-term repercussions on heart disease and other health issues. This hormone activates the body’s “fight or flight” reaction.
Researchers have analyzed whether the consequences of loneliness grew over time in the groups mentioned above. Findings revealed that people experiencing feelings of loneliness not only had a more unfavorable perception of their history but were also more likely to feel threatened and powerless in their present circumstances. Ironically, they were also less inclined to seek help when they were under stress.
Younger lonely individuals’ sleep was also observed by researchers, and it was discovered that while they looked to be sleeping just as much as typical volunteers, their sleep was interrupted often during the night. They, therefore, experienced poor sleep, which increased their risk of experiencing issues during the day. According to research, the detrimental consequences of sleep deprivation and increased stress may amplify the effects of aging on the body and increase the likelihood of age-related health issues in lonely older people.
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