Now a days, the social isolation and loneliness has gained attention from researchers, and the public as societies age, the use of technology increases, and concerns about the impact of loneliness on health is on growing. The Kaiser Family Foundation, in partnership with The Economist, conducted a cross-country survey of adults in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan.More than two in ten had the loneliness or social isolation issues go for depression in the U.K. and the U.S. In the United States (22 percent) , the United Kingdom (23 percent), Japan (9 percent) say they often or always have feeling of loneliness, companionship lacking, feeling of isolation from others, and had a negative impact on various aspects of their life.
Research analyzed that people, at sudden forced to live in quarantine during COVID-19 conditions had a higher risk of anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, insomnia and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The longevity a quarantine worsens its impact on psychological well-being. Perhaps even more concerning is that the psychological strain of loneliness manifests physiologically, too. Harry Taylor, who studies social isolation in older adults, particularly in the black community, says that it’s one of the worst things that humans can do to their overall well-being, adding that “the mortality effect of social isolation is like smoking 15 cigarettes per day.” In older people, social isolation seems to exacerbate any preexisting medical conditions, from cardiovascular diseases to Alzheimer’s, but its ill effects aren’t limited to those over 60.
However, living through isolation can have a positive outcome as well, Palinkas said. It’s known as salutogenesis, and it’s the reward that comes from coping with stress and being more self-sufficient.
AGSC 5110 Research Methods 