Social Isolation

Humans are social creatures…

Human beings are social creatures that have depended on interpersonal relationships

to hunt, build, learn and survive for centuries. Fulfilling and

having meaningful interactions with others not only ensures

survival and healthy brain function but also contributes to

overall happiness.

Increased Isolation

Despite the importance of these

relationships, individuals

throughout the world are facing increased isolation for many

reasons.

What is Social Isolation?

Social isolation can be defined as the complete or near complete lack of

interaction or contact with society. In most

cases, isolation is involuntary and can

affect individuals of all ages. Isolated

individuals may lack the feeling of being able to

approach others in order to find comfort,

seek advice or physically and

emotionally network with one another, or

may not have the means to do so.

Feelings of social isolation have

increased sharply in populations

throughout the world over the last century. In 1950, four million

Americans lived alone, accounting for

9% of households. According to the

Euromonitor International, the global number of

people living alone has increased almost

a third from 1996-2006 from 153 million

to 202 million.

Feelings of social isolation have increased sharply in

populations throughout the world over the last century.

In 1950, four million Americans lived alone, accounting for 9% of

households. According to the Euromonitor

International, the global number of people living

alone has increased almost a third from 1996-2006

from 153 million to 202 million.

Much of the elderly

population worldwide is

socially isolated.

Scandinavia makes up the largest portion of “singletons”, at 40-45% of the country’s total population.

Research continues to confirm that social

isolation has damaging effects on the brain, as oligodendrocytes (brain

cells which build the fatty, insulating

sheathes that cushion the neurons of the

brain) fail to mature when exposed to

isolation.

The dysfunction of the oligodendrocytes, axons

which typically look like tree roots in the brain have been identified as stumpy, short

and simple in mice that have been isolated. In addition to the reduced growth of the

oligodendrocytes, scientists have identified thinner coats of myelin on brain sheaths, which are responsible for

transmitting electric signals more quickly across the brain.

Social Isolation directly

relates to brain

function!

While research is promising that the white matter of the brain, the tissue containing

nerve fibers involved in brain connections, can be rebuilt when exposed to

more enriching environments, studies

indicate that deterioration of gray matter, the tissue of the brain contributing to perception, movement,

speech and thinking may not be reversible.

 

Are we isolating ourselves?

As belonging to a community continues to be compromised by morning

commutes alone in cars, use of automated checkouts at grocery stores and drive

through ATM’s rather than visit the inside of a bank, it is not surprising that much

research indicates individual’s are now more isolated than ever, with a

larger portion of the population living alone than

ever before.

Loss of Family Interaction

Family interaction and communication has

decreased leaving many individuals without others to

approach to find comfort, seek advice or with others

to network.

Feelings of “belonging” to a community have become increasingly rare and as the global community

continues to move faster and network through online means, it is increasingly interesting how online

presences are and will be used to fulfill the social needs of individuals.

Where do I belong?

Emotional, Psychological or Community

Challenges?Social isolation is often the result of

emotional or psychological

challenges, it is also largely dependent

upon the community or social organization in which an individual

lives.

Social relationships may be deteriorating because of distance

education, increasingly long commutes or the patterns of land use in

rural and urban communities, which create barriers for

interaction or do not provide sufficient

spaces for engagement among individuals.

With the increased automation of

society, interactions are often with

strangers with whom people lack any ongoing social relationship.

Stay Connected!With these trends in mind it is important to identify opportunities for increasing the connectedness of

individuals globally. Efforts in the last few years may indicate that the global community has identified the importance of working toward inclusive relationships

through proactive initiatives.

In May 2008, the Australian Social

Inclusion Board was formed as the main advisory body to the

Government to coordinate a whole-of-government approach

to social inclusion. Similarly, the

European Commission leaders have pledged

to lift at least 20 million people out of poverty and social exclusion by 2020 as part of the European

Platform against Poverty and Social

Exclusion.

Social Isolation or Social

Interaction?

What does the future hold?These initiatives indicate that perhaps the

global community is beginning to address the challenge of social isolation with supportive

efforts.