About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Chronic Illness can Make You Feel Lonely: Research

by Bidita Debnath on February 12, 2015 at 10:55 PM
Font : A-A+

 Chronic Illness can Make You Feel Lonely: Research

Researchers have found a link between a chronic disease and feeling of social isolation.

The new study by Concordia University claims that the onset of chronic illness often results in sufferers feeling lonelier, even for those who have had a steady partner for 50 years or more.

Advertisement

Researchers at the Personality, Aging, and Health Lab at Concordia took on the study because they found that, while plenty of research examined the effect of loneliness on illness, there was a lack of empirical evidence about whether or not illness contributes to loneliness.

Meaghan Barlow, the study's first author said that they were surprised by the amount of literature that examined whether people who are lonely are more likely to get sick.
Advertisement

The study revealed that they often feel lonely when they advance in age, and that it happens regardless of being in a long-term relationship when faced with a bleak diagnosis.

Barlow and her co-author, Sarah Liu, measured changes in loneliness between 2004 and 2012 in a sample of 121 older adults who were mostly in their 70s.

Looking at the numbers provided some insights into how self-protective strategies can reduce the stress associated with a serious health issue. In particular, positively reappraising a difficult health situation and not blaming oneself for the illness prevented feelings of loneliness, most likely because it helps maintain motivation for social involvement and prevents depressive symptoms.

Barlow said that putting a halt to socializing only contributes to a downward spiral, and a chronic illness shouldn't stop one from trying to get out there.

Naturally, the challenge for society is to help an aging population find motivation to stay engaged, which means recognizing that the psychological side effects of disease can be offset with an increase in inspiring activity.

The study is published in Health Psychology.

Source: ANI
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Research News

 Blind People Feel Their Heartbeat Better Than Those With Sight
Brain plasticity following blindness leads to superior ability in sensing signals from the heart, which has implications for bodily awareness and emotional processing.
New Biomarkers Help Detect Alzheimer's Disease Early
A group of scientists were awarded £1.3 million to create a new “point of care testing” kit that detects Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.
Bone Health and Dementia: Establishing a Link
Is there a connection between Osteoporosis and dementia? Yes, loss in bone density may be linked to an increased risk of dementia in older age.
Is Telomere Shortening a Sign of Cellular Aging?
Link between chromosome length and biological aging marker discovered. The finding helps explain why people with longer telomeres have a lower dementia risk.
Why Is Integrated Structural Biology Important for Cystic Fibrosis?
Integrated structural biology helps discover how the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) works.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Chronic Illness can Make You Feel Lonely: Research Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests