Loneliness is fatally dangerous: a link has been identified between visiting loved ones and early death

The study found that people who never receive visits from loved ones are more likely to die earlier. Those who don’t see friends or family are 77% more likely to die from any cause, and even monthly visits can make a big difference.

Everyone should visit friends and family at least once a month to prevent loneliness and reduce the risk of early death, according to a new study.

Scientists from the University of Glasgow have calculated that not being able to see loved ones at least once a month and living alone significantly increases the risk of death.

Using data from the long-term UK Biobank study, which tracks the health and genetics of adults across the UK, the study authors looked at five different types of social connections reported by 458,146 people with an average age of 57, and then followed them for an average of 12.6 years. The scientists found that each form of social isolation, such as living alone, feeling lonely often, or having infrequent visits from friends or family, was associated with a higher risk of death.

People who never received visits from friends or family were 53% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease and had a 39% increased risk of death compared to those who were visited daily. Those who lived alone were 48% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, while not being able to confide in anyone or take part in activities also increased the risk of mortality.

Those who experienced more than one form of social isolation were at even higher risk. According to the study, people who lived alone and never saw friends or family had a 77% higher risk of death from any cause and an even higher risk of death from heart disease or stroke compared with those who lived with someone else. someone who saw friends or family every day.

But the researchers concluded that even visiting just once a month could reduce this risk. The study, published in the journal BMC Medicine, found that people who received at least monthly visits from friends or family had a significantly lower risk of death, suggesting a potential protective effect from such social interaction.

“The risk appears to be among people who are very isolated and never see friends and family, or see them less than once a month,” said study co-author Jason Gill, professor of cardiometabolic health at the University of Glasgow. “Ensuring that you visit your lonely and isolated relatives is a very useful thing because it seems to be important that people visit you at least once a month.”

The study did not examine why social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of mortality, but its lead author, Dr Hamish Foster, a research fellow in the department of clinical practice and primary care at the University of Glasgow, said: “It is possible that people who are more socially isolated , may lead an increasingly unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking or high alcohol consumption, for example.”

The scientist also suggested that the lack of someone to help take them to the doctor or encourage them to seek help if needed, as well as direct biological effects on the immune system, could be factors.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the British Psychological Society and Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology, said: “By highlighting the devastating consequences of both low levels of objective and subjective social connections, this study shows how important it is that we understand the different aspects and causes loneliness and social isolation so that it is recognized as a serious public health problem and effective interventions are developed at the community level.”

Caroline Abrahams, director of the charity Age UK, said the research highlighted the importance of close friends and family: “It’s really easy for all of us, at any age, to ignore health problems and put off doing anything about them, but having a loved one who we can trust can really make a difference. For some older adults, offering to go with them to appointments or at least help with transportation can make the difference between proactively addressing a health problem or continuing to brush it off until they become seriously ill.”