A new study this week coming out of Australia shows being lonely can lead to health risks and even an early death.
The study was conducted by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) with 1,600 participants. Buzzfeed also reports the following findings:
- 50% of the population feels lonely at least one day a week
- 27.6% feels lonely at least three days a week
- 1 in 4 experience high levels of social interaction anxiety
- 55% of Australians feel they lack companionship at least sometimes
The study points out that not everyone who is alone is lonely and in contrast those surrounded by other people are not immune to feeling alone.
The President of APS Ros Knight told BuzzFeed:
"Because if you've got no-one to talk to, debrief how awful life is sometimes, then you start to wear that stress and that costs you in terms of your physical health."
Although many health professionals will focus on smoking and obesity when looking at a person's overall health, loneliness is often overlooked.
Knight added:
"We need to consider approaches to loneliness as part of our health and mental health strategy."
People are having some big feels about this information.
I just read a headline ereng being single can kill you faster than obesity.... https://t.co/hMmqJbbcCa— Kal 🕊 (@Kal 🕊)1540213875.0
dating a kuwaiti can kill you faster than being single :) https://t.co/w7wrlUf0k9— MBeya 🐰 (@MBeya 🐰)1540313838.0
Me, eating a bag of Nibs liquorice: "Today I read an article headline that said being single can kill you faster th… https://t.co/yBfu8skz3v— that's the juice klenz (@that's the juice klenz)1540158585.0
“”Being single can kill you faster than obesity””- Amy. Looks like I’m fucked either way— Spence (@Spence)1539826162.0
Them: "Being single for too long can kill you faster than obesity." Me: "challenge accepted. Fat people VS. happy and stress-free me."— KateSleepsTonight (@KateSleepsTonight)1540120236.0
Soooo..... Ummm..... I just saw this news post that said, "Being single can kill you faster than obesity" that's cr… https://t.co/9LuKkyAHUH— Delymar Delgado (@Delymar Delgado)1532667162.0
Now they saying being single can kill you faster than being fat.... 🤷♂️guess I'm double dead then😂😂😂— Bonez Tha Truth (@Bonez Tha Truth)1519587886.0
"Being single can kill you faster than obesity." .....Welp! See ya later guys. It's been real. I've got a lot of planning to do! 😘✌🏼— Heather (@Heather)1528007967.0
I saw that being single can kill you faster than obesity so I guess I probably only have a couple weeks left. lmk if you trynna save a life.— 𝒫𝑜𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝒸𝑜𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓇 (@𝒫𝑜𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝒸𝑜𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓇)1532901274.0
So apparently being single can kill you faster than obesity.. who's trynna stay alive with me?— ash🦇 (@ash🦇)1519276691.0
Maggie: “did you know being single can kill you faster than obesity?” Me: “I’m single and obese” Maggie: “looks like you’re dying soon”— goth mom 🦇🕷 (@goth mom 🦇🕷)1508987071.0
They say being single can kill you faster than obesity... Damn I'm near death— destroydev (@destroydev)1507412605.0
It might be time to join a lonely eaters club.
H/T: Buzzfeed, The Guardian