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Friends in Healthy Places Feelings of isolation can have negative impact on the health of seniors 
No one likes to be alone. And for older adults, feelings of loneliness can actually be detrimental to their health. According to new research from the University of Chicago, older adults who feel least-isolated are five times more likely to report very good health compared to their lonelier counterparts, regardless of actual social connectedness. Older people who are able to adjust to being alone don't have the same health problems. "The relationship between social disconnectedness and mental health appears to operate through feelings of loneliness and a perceived lack of social support," says study co-author Linda Waite, a Professor in Sociology at the University of Chicago and a leading expert on aging. Researchers measured the degree to which older adults were socially connected and socially active, as well as whether they feel lonely and expect family and friends to support them in need. The study found that older adults who feel most isolated reported 65 percent more depressive symptoms than those who feel less isolated, despite actual connectedness. The research suggests that older adults who are able to withstand socially isolating experiences or adjust expectations will stay healthier. "We need to better understand how older adults adapt to changes in their social relationships," Waite says. |
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