Humanity is fundamentally akin to social animals, and its survival depends upon connections made during its lifetime. They are essential for maintaining optimal mental and physical health at all ages. Therefore, social isolation and loneliness have tremendous effects on longevity, health, and well-being. The development of such conditions at old age may increase the risk for diabetes, cognitive decline, dementia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, and anxiety (Weissbourd et al., 2021). At the same time, leading to a reduction in the lifespan and deterioration of the quality of life (Weissbourd et al., 2021). Older populations are especially prone to falling under the risk group due to the likelihood of experiencing life transitions and disruptive life events such as loss of close relatives, friends, or partners; retirement; disability; relocation of children, or migration.
However, the effects of social isolation and loneliness, particularly among the elderly, were overlooked social determinants of health and have recently become the subject of attention. These challenges have begun to be recognized as major public policy and public health issues in various nations. The COVID-19 epidemic and the resulting physical separation measures have raised the importance of these issues. In 2018, the UK government decided to appoint a loneliness minister whose objective is the implementation of measures to prevent social isolation. In response to the global pandemic, Japan chose to approach the issue in a similar fashion in 2021. In 2020, the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a consensus regarding the topic of isolation and possible solutions. Consequently, it is possible to argue that the issue is prevalent even among developed countries and has to be resolved internally via interventions in the health care system.
The pandemic caused major issues with loneliness in the USA as numerous people reported the experience of having such feelings. The issue is prevalent among young adults and often overlaps with depression and anxiety. According to Weissbourd et al. (2021), in October of 2020, 36% out of 950 survey respondents declared that they feel lonely constantly or frequently, and 37% responded that the feeling was occasional. In my opinion, the situation is currently undergoing improvement with the reduction of anti-COVID measures. Although to a certain degree, the effects of loneliness and social isolation could still be felt as prioritization of online services remained. Consequently, the country’s citizens might not be as lonely as they were during the pandemic, but some may continue to display the isolated behavior.
Improving public policies to mitigate social isolation in case of reoccurrence of quarantine measures is necessary. Public efforts aimed at raising awareness of the self-defeating beliefs and actions that contribute to and exacerbate loneliness may bring beneficial results (Weissbourd et al., 2021). People should be aware that loneliness frequently leads to excessive self-criticism, criticism of others, and the expectation of social failures and rejection (Weissbourd et al., 2021). They should be informed of the ways that allow them to regulate these attitudes and actions better. Simultaneously, short-term therapies that target cognitive distortions and help lonely individuals to reframe negative beliefs could be introduced.
Nevertheless, it can be understood that the quality of life among older adults who are susceptible to social isolation depends on the established bonds. It is possible to argue that their lifespan will deteriorate without proper management of social connections (old and new). Aging is the inevitable process of life, and it is interconnected with death and negative thoughts. It is necessary to properly educate the elderly on coping with the loneliness they might experience to promote a higher quality of life.
Reference
Weissbourd, R., Batanova, M., Lovison, V., and Torres E. (2021). Loneliness in America: How the pandemic has deepened an epidemic of loneliness and what we can do about it. Harvard Graduate School of Education. Web.