PENNSYLVANIA: Almost all of us have experienced feelings of loneliness at one time or another, even if only for a short period of time. However, a new study tells us that it can have negative effects on physical health.
According to media reports, research published in ‘Health Psychology’ shows that if you are one of those people who have lost contact with others, even temporarily, it can affect your mental health, as well as your physical health. can also affect
Dakota Wetzel, lead author of the study and a researcher at Penn State University, explained that a lot of research focuses on whether you’re completely alone or not, but now we know the issue isn’t that simple. . A few days or even hours of isolation can be harmful.
“If we are able to understand the various external variables associated with feelings of loneliness on a day-to-day basis, we can learn how this condition is affecting our day-to-day and long-term health,” he added.
It should be noted that loneliness is considered a global health crisis. In 2023, American surgeon Vivek Murthy called loneliness a public health crisis.
They highlighted the increased rates of depression and other mental health problems associated with loneliness. Along with this, there is a 29% risk of heart disease, a 32% risk of stroke and a 50% risk of dementia in the elderly.
