Chronic loneliness is not just feeling down — it hits your physical health too, says new study

Feeling lonely without relief might indicate chronic loneliness, a serious issue affecting many.

Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy highlighted a loneliness epidemic in the United States, affecting both adults and youth, according to HuffPost.

The study, published in Health Psychology, emphasizes different aspects of loneliness, and it is timed with Loneliness Awareness Week from June 10-16.

Dr. Murthy warns that chronic loneliness and limited social connections increase health risks for older adults, such as a 29% higher risk of heart disease, 32% higher risk of stroke, and 50% higher risk of dementia.

Those frequently experiencing loneliness also face higher chances of developing depression and other mental health problems compared to those who seldom feel lonely.

Meanwhile, a recent Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study found that chronically lonely people are more likely to have a stroke.

Researchers used data from 8,936 people aged 50 and older with no stroke history who reported their loneliness levels between 2006-2008 and 2010-2012.

Researchers grouped participants into four categories based on their loneliness levels over time:

• “Consistently low” for those consistently reporting low loneliness
• “Remitting” for those initially high but later low
• “Recent onset” for those starting low and becoming high
• “Consistently high” for those always reporting high loneliness

Those consistently lonely were 56% more likely to have a stroke compared to those who were not lonely at either time.

The study found a 25% higher stroke risk for those in the “remitting” group but no increased risk for the “recent onset” group, suggesting chronic loneliness, not occasional loneliness, raises stroke risk.

However, the study only included older adults. It recognized that loneliness is subjective, making it unclear if the findings apply to younger people or universally define loneliness.

“Repeat assessments of loneliness may help identify those who are chronically lonely and are therefore at a higher risk for stroke. If we fail to address their feelings of loneliness, on a micro and macro scale, there could be profound health consequences,” lead study author Yenee Soh said in a press release.

“Importantly, these interventions must specifically target loneliness, which is a subjective perception and should not be conflated with social isolation.”

In another study, researchers found that even occasional feelings of loneliness can lead to health problems for individuals who don’t typically see themselves as lonely, SciTechDaily noted.

These individuals may experience issues like fatigue, headaches, and nausea.

Participants in the study, drawn from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE), included 1,538 adults aged 35 to 65.

Led by David Almeida, a professor at Penn State specializing in human development and family studies, the research aimed to understand chronic loneliness in midlife—a topic often overlooked in previous studies focused on teenagers and older adults.

Participants in the NSDE engaged in phone interviews over eight days to discuss their daily stress, mood, and experiences.

They reported feelings of loneliness, frequency of loneliness, and any physical symptoms such as fatigue or headaches.

This process was repeated twice, with a ten-year gap between assessments.

Moreover, researchers found that lower average loneliness levels and days with less loneliness than usual were linked to fewer and milder physical health symptoms among participants.

Consistently lower levels of loneliness over the eight days also correlated with less severe physical health issues.

Almeida emphasized the importance of understanding day-to-day changes in loneliness to address its health effects.

He suggested that increasing social connections for a single day could reduce health symptoms, offering a practical approach to help those dealing with chronic loneliness.

Dakota Witzel, the lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Healthy Aging emphasized the importance of monitoring daily changes in loneliness.

While chronic loneliness can lead to significant long-term health issues identified by health experts, temporary feelings of loneliness can also have immediate negative health impacts.

Witzel highlighted that loneliness isn’t a straightforward yes-or-no state; it fluctuates throughout the day and can vary hour by hour.

He argued that recognizing these daily variations in loneliness is essential for understanding how it affects both daily wellness and long-term health.

How to cope with loneliness?

Staying connected with others is crucial for our well-being.

Here are some of the things you can do to cope with loneliness:

1. Check out the connections you already have.

We may miss what’s right in front of us when feeling lonely.

Professor Floyd suggests that many focus narrowly on specific signs of affection and intimacy, such as hearing ‘I love you’ or receiving likes on social media.

They may not notice gestures like friends helping with home projects.

Broadening the understanding of affection and love to include more behaviors often reveals that they’re not as deprived as initially perceived.

2. Take time for self-love and appreciation.

Dr. Judith Orloff, M.D., author of Thriving as an Empath, advises treating yourself like your best friend.

She meditates in a quiet space, calming herself and letting go of worries, fears, and loneliness to be with herself.

For beginners, she recommends three minutes of quiet meditation, focusing on something enjoyable like the ocean or simple things to be thankful for.

She suggests that shifting attention to gratitude rather than dwelling on what’s missing can transform negative thoughts.

3. Contribute to your community.

Get involved in your community through volunteering to build meaningful relationships.

According to Ruth Wolever, Ph.D., from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, focusing on others helps combat loneliness by expanding your social circle.

Joining community organizations, religious groups, or clubs centered around shared interests provides great opportunities to connect with others.

Wolever, an executive board member of the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching, suggests that volunteering can be less intimidating than joining interest-based groups like sports teams or book clubs.

Working together on charitable activities reduces the pressure to initiate new connections.

Simply taking part in selfless acts outside your home, Wolever notes, is one of the most effective ways to combat feelings of isolation, even if new friendships don’t immediately develop.

4. Recognize and accept your feelings of loneliness.

While it can feel challenging to share these feelings with others or even admit them to yourself due to potential shame or discouragement, expressing them is the first step toward overcoming chronic loneliness.

“We tend to stigmatize loneliness in the U.S., equating it with being a loner or a loser,” said Floyd.

This stigma can discourage people from acknowledging their loneliness, which only prolongs it.

Therefore, honestly facing and acknowledging these feelings, at least to oneself, is crucial to starting the healing process.

Here’s a video from CBS Mornings about coping with loneliness and it’s difference from depression: