The health implications caused by loneliness are immense. A recent survey indicates that 48% of healthcare providers feel lonely, with physicians experiencing one of the highest rates of loneliness among all professionals. Here are three practical pieces of advice on how to reduce loneliness as a healthcare professional.
Feeling lonely is universal, regardless of one’s profession, gender, age, and location. In the midst of feeling isolated and disconnected from others, it can be difficult to remember that we are not alone in feeling lonely. Nearly one in four people, or 25%, feel lonely around the world, which is more than a billion people (Meta-Gallup survey, 2023).
Loneliness is linked to several types of diseases and health conditions.* These include cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes, and immune dysfunction, which can lead to a higher susceptibility to infections.
In terms of mental health, loneliness can significantly increase the risk of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. Chronic loneliness can also exacerbate stress and promote inflammation, contributing to a range of other health issues.
Due to the immense health impacts on our physical and mental well-being, the WHO declared loneliness and isolation as a global public health priority in November 2023. They have now launched a new commission on social connection to focus on ways to address this health concern and help.
Continue reading to learn more about loneliness and how to overcome loneliness:
What Causes Loneliness?
Although loneliness is universal, people tend to experience it in different ways and to varying degrees due to their personal life experiences, work environment, and individual perceptions, needs, and ability to form meaningful social connections.
The definition of loneliness is not being alone. One can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. Both phylogenetically and ontogenetically, humans need more than just the presence of others; they require the presence of people who value them, whom they can trust, and with whom they can communicate, plan, and work together to survive and thrive. Therefore, the quality of our connection to others is crucial. Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. The feeling of loneliness is normally caused by the discrepancy between a person’s desired and actual social relationships.*
Recently, loneliness has been conceptualised as a physiological signal to help us survive and prosper. The state of loneliness has evolved as a signal to change our behaviour, like hunger, thirst, or physical pain, it serves to help us avoid damage. It’s our body’s way of motivating us to pay attention and seek out the connections needed to feel safe and be healthy.*
To reduce or overcome loneliness, it can be very helpful to try to understand and identify the root causes of our feelings. In psychological research, loneliness is often categorised as chronic loneliness and transient loneliness, based on duration and underlying causes to better understand its impacts and to assess appropriate interventions.
Chronic loneliness:
Chronic loneliness is a persistent, internal experience that can extend over many years and may vary in intensity. Its causes are highly individual, ranging from a lack of meaningful social connections and past traumas to long-term health conditions. Social isolation can also stem from discrimination or financial barriers that prevent participation in certain social activities.
Transient loneliness:
Transient loneliness is temporary and usually linked to specific circumstances, like moving to a new city, starting a new job, going through a breakup, or the passing of a loved one. It often resolves over time as situations change and the individual adapts.
Do you have tips on how to overcome loneliness? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Loneliness Among Healthcare Providers
Loneliness and isolation among healthcare providers is significantly influenced by job satisfaction, burnout levels, work environments, and personal circumstances.
A survey conducted by Sage Journals in 2021 reveals that nearly half (48%) of healthcare providers experienced loneliness with physicians experiencing one of the highest rates of loneliness. Those in procedural areas reported higher loneliness scores, in contrast to hospital-based floor or unit staff who reported the lowest. Factors contributing to loneliness and isolation included exhaustion from clinical duties (36.1%), heavy workloads (39.6%), and COVID-19 precautions (39.2%).
The study also explored the relationships between loneliness and various factors across organisational, cultural, and personal levels. Key findings suggest work environment changes due to COVID-19, such as increased remote work and social distancing, impacted loneliness, especially in procedural areas where social interactions are less frequent.
The study notes the influence of workplace culture on loneliness, highlighting that supportive cultures that promote work-life balance tend to reduce loneliness. On a personal level, factors like exhaustion, depression, and burnout were strongly correlated with higher loneliness scores, emphasising the link between job satisfaction and loneliness.
In light of these findings, workplaces can implement several key measures to reduce loneliness among healthcare providers:
- Facilitate More Interaction: Enhance the design and workflow in procedural areas to encourage more frequent and meaningful interactions.
- Promote a Supportive Culture: Develop a workplace culture that actively promotes work-life balance and acknowledges the personal needs of healthcare providers.
- Address Personal Well-being: Focus on reducing factors like exhaustion, depression, and burnout through supportive policies and mental health resources.
- Adapt to Changes: Adapt workplace strategies to maintain connectivity, especially with the ongoing changes brought by COVID-19, such as remote working conditions.
How to Reduce Loneliness? 3 Practical Advice
Loneliness is increasing globally due to factors such as urbanisation, technological changes, shifting family structures, economic pressures, and an aging population. These elements disrupt traditional social networks and reduce face-to-face interactions, exacerbating feelings of isolation and disconnection.
Research shows several intervention strategies can effectively reduce feelings of loneliness, thereby improving mental health and physical well-being. A 2010 meta-analysis identified four such effective strategies, including:
- Improve social skills
- Enhancing social support
- Increasing Social Interaction Opportunities
- Addressing Negative Social Cognition
Using these four strategies as a foundation, here are three practical pieces of advice on how to combat loneliness and start feeling better: Reflection, Routines, and Rituals.
1. Reflection
As feelings of loneliness are caused by the discrepancy between a person’s desired and actual social relationships, it’s important to understand the gap. Take time to assess your emotional and social needs by reflecting on your current relationships and the gaps between what you desire and what you experience. This reflection, whether done alone, in support groups, or through talk therapy, helps identify the underlying causes of loneliness. This self-assessment can guide you in making more informed choices about where and how to seek fulfilling connections. Research shows that understanding the roots of loneliness can facilitate more targeted interventions, thereby effectively reducing the feeling of loneliness and isolation.
2. Routines
Implementing daily or weekly habits that support mental health and foster social connections can help reduce feelings of loneliness. If existing relationships, such as with family, friends, a partner, or coworkers, are unfulfilling, structured activities aimed at deepening connections can be useful. Set specific times for meaningful conversations or initiate shared projects. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and social skills training can help refine your communication and adjust unhelpful perceptions and behaviours which may prevent one from fostering meaningful connections.
For those without a social network or who feel they lack social skills, participating in team sports, classes, social hobbies, or professional networks can provide more structured social interactions that can help facilitate relationship building. Social skills training and group therapy can also offer a supportive environment to practice new skills, such as conversational techniques, handling silence, and understanding non-verbal cues.
Additionally, maintaining healthy habits such as regular exercise, sufficient sleep, a balanced diet, and journaling can enhance mental resilience and emotional well-being, acting as a buffer to better manage feelings of loneliness and isolation.
3. Rituals
Establish rituals that promote mindfulness, self-care, and social connections. Loneliness can be a reflection of disconnection from our own feelings and needs. Incorporating daily practices such as meditation, dedicated time for self-care, and scheduling specific times for socialising can greatly enhance personal well-being and strengthen your relationship with yourself and others. These rituals can foster a sense of belonging and connection. Additionally, participating in self-help groups that focus on transforming negative thought patterns into more constructive, self-supportive ones can address maladaptive social cognition, a crucial step in combating loneliness.
Did you find these three pieces of advice on how to reduce loneliness useful? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below and share your most valuable tip on how to establish meaningful social connections.
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A recent survey indicates that 48% of healthcare providers feel lonely, with physicians experiencing one of the highest rates of loneliness among all professionals. Have you ever feel lonely in your workplace? Leave a comment below.
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