New Research Suggests That Never Seeing Friends Or Family Members Is Linked To A 39% Increase In Risk Of Death, But Even Occasional Visits Could Lower This Mortality Risk
A recent study conducted by researchers in Scotland highlights a concerning connection between limited time with family and friends and a higher risk of dying. The research sheds light on the significant impact that social connections can have on our lifespan.
The issue of social isolation has become especially prominent ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of personal interactions in maintaining health.
Social connection goes beyond simply having a lot of friends on social media or being present at social gatherings. It involves an intricate mix of interaction frequency– or the “structural” element, such as how frequently we meet people– and the emotional quality of these interactions, or the “functional” aspect.
Remarkably, each of these aspects individually affects our likelihood of heart disease and death.
The research team analyzed data from 458,146 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank. These participants, who had an average age of 56.5, joined the study between 2006 and 2010.
At the beginning of their involvement, they completed an extensive questionnaire that delved into five crucial areas of social interaction. This included subjective experiences such as feelings of loneliness and the capacity to share confidences, along with more concrete factors like how often they received visits from loved ones, their involvement in group activities on a weekly basis, and whether or not they lived by themselves.
The study tracked these participants for more than 12 years, a period in which 33,135 of them died. It revealed a distinct link between all five forms of social interactions and the risk of death from any cause.
Particularly striking was the finding that the lack of physical social interactions, such as visits from family and friends, had a greater influence on the risk of mortality compared to feelings of isolation or loneliness.
The research identified a notable 39% rise in mortality risk for individuals who never had visits from friends or family. Furthermore, the researchers noted that participating in weekly group activities offered little benefit to those who were entirely cut off from family visits.
fizkes – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
Individuals who neither had visitors nor joined group activities faced a nearly identical increased risk of death– 49%– as those who participated in group activities but still did not receive family visits.
But, there is a silver lining to this study. The findings indicate that even infrequent visits from friends or family, perhaps just once a month, can offer a protective benefit, considerably reducing the heightened risk of death.
This highlights the potentially life-saving importance of keeping up social connections, particularly as we get older.
The study also stresses that social health is multifaceted, encompassing different dimensions. It goes beyond merely experiencing loneliness or the number of social engagements one participates in. Rather, it’s about understanding these factors in a comprehensive and integrated manner.
“Our findings suggest that advice, interventions, and policy may need to be tailored to address different aspects of social connection and target the highest risk groups,” the researchers concluded.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in BMC Medicine, visit the link here.
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