Is Loneliness Contagious?
- 12.07.2009
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Do lonely people really attract other lonely people? A new study found an unhealthy cycle that lonely people attract other lonely people and influence other people to feel lonely. "Loneliness can spread from person to person to person -- up to three degrees of separation," said James H. Fowler, co-author of the study published in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego.
The study found that lonely people tend to isolate themselves into small groups, which increases depressive feelings of being alone. Most lonely people tend to either be friendless or cycle through friendships every few years, and may lose up to 8% of their friends over a four-year period of time. The researchers observed that women were more prone to “catch” loneliness than men. So maybe loneliness can be contagious?
People tend to hang out with people that they can relate with and share life commonalities. Mark R. Leary, professor and director of the social psychology program at Duke University, whose work zeroes in on the need for social acceptance, called the study impressive in its sample, analysis and conclusion. He added that the contagion of loneliness could be, to some degree, a situation of people mimicking the styles of those around them.
So what can be done to help these lonely people not feel alone? Leary suggested that those who interact with lonely people recognize that their tendency to pull inward emotionally and be less outgoing is a trait of loneliness, not of something else. "It reflects loneliness and a need for connection, rather than indifference, dislike or rejection. People can reach out to their lonely loved one rather than withdraw themselves," he said.
Fowler agreed. "For the mental health provider, this means treating not just the patient, but potentially also the patient's friends," he said. "For the employer, this means emphasizing activities that help their employees to connect to one another socially. For the family member, this means you should tend to your own networks, too, while you help your kin feel more connected."
If you know family or friends who seem lonely then reach out to them and make them feel loved. If loneliness is contagious than surely love, happiness, and being positive can be contagious too. When you start feeling lonely, what do you do to enlighten your mood and feel happy? Do you notice that you start to feel lonely when you hang out with other people are lonely? How do you deal with this contagious situation?
If you feel lonely all of the time then there might be something else going on and you don't have to continue to feel this way. Please feel free to contact us because we are here to help you.
The study found that lonely people tend to isolate themselves into small groups, which increases depressive feelings of being alone. Most lonely people tend to either be friendless or cycle through friendships every few years, and may lose up to 8% of their friends over a four-year period of time. The researchers observed that women were more prone to “catch” loneliness than men. So maybe loneliness can be contagious?
People tend to hang out with people that they can relate with and share life commonalities. Mark R. Leary, professor and director of the social psychology program at Duke University, whose work zeroes in on the need for social acceptance, called the study impressive in its sample, analysis and conclusion. He added that the contagion of loneliness could be, to some degree, a situation of people mimicking the styles of those around them.
So what can be done to help these lonely people not feel alone? Leary suggested that those who interact with lonely people recognize that their tendency to pull inward emotionally and be less outgoing is a trait of loneliness, not of something else. "It reflects loneliness and a need for connection, rather than indifference, dislike or rejection. People can reach out to their lonely loved one rather than withdraw themselves," he said.
Fowler agreed. "For the mental health provider, this means treating not just the patient, but potentially also the patient's friends," he said. "For the employer, this means emphasizing activities that help their employees to connect to one another socially. For the family member, this means you should tend to your own networks, too, while you help your kin feel more connected."
If you know family or friends who seem lonely then reach out to them and make them feel loved. If loneliness is contagious than surely love, happiness, and being positive can be contagious too. When you start feeling lonely, what do you do to enlighten your mood and feel happy? Do you notice that you start to feel lonely when you hang out with other people are lonely? How do you deal with this contagious situation?
If you feel lonely all of the time then there might be something else going on and you don't have to continue to feel this way. Please feel free to contact us because we are here to help you.
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