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Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem In US Than Obesity
- Thread starter entremet
- Start date
Okay, so there are a couple of issues with this. The link provided in the OP leads to a website called StudyFinds, which is fine, but you guys need to realize that the article is reporting on a press release of an abstract presented at he 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.
What this means is that this is a scientific presentation, which can be different from a paper where we get into the nitty gritty of their methodology and actual results.
For example, the article states that "a persons risk of early death by 50 percent." What does that mean? Are they referring to an odds ratio? What exactly was compared as the cause of death? The article and press release just make broad statements, which again is fine, but I don't see any actual data to back this up (what kind of statistics was run? What were the types of papers they included in their meta-analyses? Was the data significant?)
You can't actually look over the presentation, abstract, or presumably paper (if one has been written already) if you go searching for it.
I'll just end this post with a link to one of my favorite PhD comics that summarizes my thoughts on announcements on scientific findings: The Science News Cycle
What this means is that this is a scientific presentation, which can be different from a paper where we get into the nitty gritty of their methodology and actual results.
For example, the article states that "a persons risk of early death by 50 percent." What does that mean? Are they referring to an odds ratio? What exactly was compared as the cause of death? The article and press release just make broad statements, which again is fine, but I don't see any actual data to back this up (what kind of statistics was run? What were the types of papers they included in their meta-analyses? Was the data significant?)
You can't actually look over the presentation, abstract, or presumably paper (if one has been written already) if you go searching for it.
I'll just end this post with a link to one of my favorite PhD comics that summarizes my thoughts on announcements on scientific findings: The Science News Cycle
ShaoranWright
Member
Well.... I don't have friends to play Overwatch and I die a little bit everytime I play any match and see Hanzos and mcrees doing shit for the team. So yeah, I agree with this.
DarknessTear
Banned
I only have friends on the internet. Does that count?
ArgyleReptile
Banned
I'm good for now, but I'm fucked when I finally strike out on my own...
Moose Biscuits
It would be extreamly painful...
I don't need relationships, I have anime!
entremet
Member
Well the study did garner an important presentation on a major professional panel. This is not akin to fake news, but I do agree that it should be scrutized like all research.
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/08/lonely-die.aspx
Moose Biscuits
It would be extreamly painful...
Basically people are never gonna be happy and we're all gonna die anyway.
johancruijff
Banned
I hate the fact that loneliness and isolation are harmful. I mean, the fact is that most people just plain suck, but if you don't regularly interact with them, your body will basically stop producing some chemicals or whatever that are essential for your health. Or start producing ones that are harmful. Whatever. The point is that it's absolutely ridiculous and stupid that the human body functions this way. Like, personally I find interacting with most people unpleasant, yet my body turns against me if I don't. Ridiculous. Just let me be alone and healthy, dammit.
Captain Smoker
Member
To me this is such a flawed attitude.
Tal Shiar Agent
Banned
Not everyone gets lonely.
entremet
Member
Our ancestors were tribal. If you were isolated your chances of survival were lessened dramatically.
How About No
Member
if im alone and attacked by a cougar or something i think i could manage to kick it in the face or throw rocks at it just fine
i dont need no backup
I've spent a lot of time in isolation for work and it became that I didn't even notice it anymore. It wasn't lonely when you felt like internet interaction was enough. I ended up changing though once I hit 30. Just gravitated more into social settings almost from gut feeling. Wasn't really a conscious effort.
Emperor_Uriel
Member
The good news is, this is the easiest problem to fix. We don't need to pass bills or alter the economy or engage in massive lifestyle changes to solve the issue of social isolation, we just have to stop listening to all of the forces in our lives screaming "fear everyone!"
Fear of rejection, fear our intentions will be misread, fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of looking foolish, fear of having our resources taken, fear of losing a competition, fear of being taken advantage of, fear of taking a risk.
The media inundates us with material to feed these fears, both real and fictional, and we allow it to cripple our mental health and social ability because we believe it keeps us safe and comfortable. I wonder, at this rate, how long it will be before we're living in a post-social, post-love society?
We need to collectively reject this fear on as many platforms as possible in settings both micro and macro, and curb this trend before it's too late.
Fear of rejection, fear our intentions will be misread, fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of looking foolish, fear of having our resources taken, fear of losing a competition, fear of being taken advantage of, fear of taking a risk.
The media inundates us with material to feed these fears, both real and fictional, and we allow it to cripple our mental health and social ability because we believe it keeps us safe and comfortable. I wonder, at this rate, how long it will be before we're living in a post-social, post-love society?
We need to collectively reject this fear on as many platforms as possible in settings both micro and macro, and curb this trend before it's too late.
sixteen-bit
Member
What if you've got both? Do they cancel out?
LinkAndEpona
Banned
Do the two not go hand in hand though?
Being an introvert doesn't mean being socially unhealthy.
I'm an introvert. I get my energy by recovering alone, without people around me. I need alone time. But I still have fun on the weekends and after work some days with my social groups. It's healthy.
People who don't do this are missing out on a normal social life, but then again some people have crippling social anxiety, health issues, or are caretakers for disabled people, and can't spend much time out of the house. In those cases, I guess it would be best to try your best to make time to leave the house and engage socially, or invite friends over to your place.
Right. Sounds real easy.
sloppyjoe_gamer
Gold Member
lol well alot of people in the world are assholes so it's understandable that people tend to keep to themselves, or have a very small circle of people that they'd consider close friends who they would go out and socialize with.
I don't dispute that more and more people are isolated and keep to themselves, because in today's world i can easily see why. What i do dispute is that these people are more likely to die than anyone else.
I don't dispute that more and more people are isolated and keep to themselves, because in today's world i can easily see why. What i do dispute is that these people are more likely to die than anyone else.
entremet
Member
These studies are not about looking at exceptions but broad patterns. Also loneliness may not bother some people, but it still may have an effect on health.
I mean, is it really "loneliness" if it doesn't bother the person in question?
entremet
Member
Some people really do prefer being alone. I'm not talking about introversion. I have a friend like that. He seems genuinely happy. Obviously, I don't have a window into his soul. I think we all know people like this.
Personally, I need a lot of social contact. For example, I cannot work from home, even though I can.
I tend to think stuff like facebook, IG, reddit, forums, etc, will fill in for personal interaction to some extent.
There are 'new community' types being formed. Hell, you can make a YT video about something, and get replies, and discuss stuff there, or go play a game on Twitch, you probably won't get a huge following but you might have a couple regulars pop in and you can talk there.
I'm a pretty regular almost 40 year old with 2 younger kids, and while i have a handful of good friends, we only physically see eachother a few times a year, but we'll game at least once a week...
I think for the older non-internet savy crowd (which is pretty old now, my parents are in their 70's and the can 'internet' OK) its a problem, but looking back, if my grandparents or old uncles/aunts would have had adopted email in their lives i'd certainly have 'talked' to them more, sent pics, just said "Hi, how are you etc".
There are 'new community' types being formed. Hell, you can make a YT video about something, and get replies, and discuss stuff there, or go play a game on Twitch, you probably won't get a huge following but you might have a couple regulars pop in and you can talk there.
I'm a pretty regular almost 40 year old with 2 younger kids, and while i have a handful of good friends, we only physically see eachother a few times a year, but we'll game at least once a week...
I think for the older non-internet savy crowd (which is pretty old now, my parents are in their 70's and the can 'internet' OK) its a problem, but looking back, if my grandparents or old uncles/aunts would have had adopted email in their lives i'd certainly have 'talked' to them more, sent pics, just said "Hi, how are you etc".
Emperor_Uriel
Member
It's something we have total control over that's not bogged down by politics, it's comparatively pretty easy.
How About No
Member
Being alone =/= lonliness
I feel the most lonely when I'm surrounded by other people tbh
no we're just a bunch of made up shapes
Lucky Seven
Banned
Is GAF a substitute for human interaction?
Please respond I'm lonely.
IAmAnAgnostic
Member
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Glendemonium
Member
Well... shit. It is what it is.
Worst part is, I had to get away from toxic family and cut ties with friends that couldn't even let me have even a small victory in a sea of failures. My options were either deal with the stress of living with or near assholes or be alone.
Love life is a struggle, and valley culture is shallow as all hell.
Worst part is, I had to get away from toxic family and cut ties with friends that couldn't even let me have even a small victory in a sea of failures. My options were either deal with the stress of living with or near assholes or be alone.
Love life is a struggle, and valley culture is shallow as all hell.
Really? Socialising online does nothing for me except provide a bit of distraction and/or entertainment (sort of). It doesnt give me that 'social-feeling' after a day of spending time with someone.
It's what 32 years on this Earth has taught me. Maybe you've had a different experience. If so, I envy you.
Yeah, I know. I understand the evolutionary basis for it. Doesn't make it any less stupid and annoying.
gutter_trash
Banned
oh it's true, it's damn true.
If you can, get a pet, a dog if you have the time, or a cat if you work crazy hours.
I wasn't a pet person but now I find it helps, pets don't entirely solve the loneliness problem, you need human interaction but pets to help maintain sanity of not being entirely alone
If you can, get a pet, a dog if you have the time, or a cat if you work crazy hours.
I wasn't a pet person but now I find it helps, pets don't entirely solve the loneliness problem, you need human interaction but pets to help maintain sanity of not being entirely alone
Why
Tal Shiar Agent
Banned
Why does being alone prevent you from doing anything?
Some of you guys should try VR. I've found I'm far more social amongst even a group of strangers in VR even if I don't speak their language than in any other online experience before. I've also heard of others already using it to deal with isolation with real world benefit in how much better they were able to handle social interactions. It's worth looking into.
fluffydelusions
Member
At least nowadays being alone/loneliness is a lot better than back in the day cause of the Internet. Takes your mind off it and you can interact with others even if you are shy. Being a kid and not having friends back in the 80s sucked ass...fuck all to do...read a book, draw, watch TV (when I was allowed)...ya it sucked.
paragonpro
Banned
To myself and a few other gaffers. But seriously, i know this all too well, but when i have an episode i reach out to people and it helps immensley, i suggest anyone here experiencing something similar do the same.