Photo by Jaren Wilkey / Byu Photo
Research confirms that social isolation and loneliness have a significant impact on health and mortality, even if they are not listed on death certificates. The professor of psychology and neuroscience byu, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, published a lot on the subject, including a benchmark Meta-analysis 2010 and a 2023 Framework on evaluation and treatment. She was also the main scientist on the 2023 Advisory General of the surgeon And advises the World Health Organization on a next report which addresses the urgent urgent threat of loneliness and isolation and a global program on social ties.
Social connection is now a legitimate health factor, but Holt -Lutad and doctoral student, Andrew Proctor, recently published two studies showing that most of us – the general population and medical suppliers – do not think that social bond affects physical health. And even professionals who recognize the importance report that they have no time or tools to help patients respond to social concerns.
Proctor, who wrote a Recently published study In Springer Nature, explained that before the study, they had looked at how the pandemic influenced internet research around the subjects of isolation and loneliness.
“I have a marketing experience, so I thought that the perception of the public may have changed since the covid. Social distancing, isolation and loneliness were huge fashionable words on the Internet, as Google Trends and Buzzsumo show (an online trend analyzer). All that around these terms of research was super viral during this period, and we therefore wondered if perceptions on social connection Changed, “said Proctor.
With loneliness and internet isolation trends, researchers have set up a study. In a national representative sample of American adults, as well as samples from the United Kingdom and Australia, they questioned 2,392 people about their perception of health risks associated with isolation and loneliness. The data has shown that, despite the pandemic and other campaigns, people always underestimate the importance of the social connection for physical health. And the underestimation also exists among solitary and socially connected.
“The study has identified dead angles in medical care,” said Proctor. “Social connection is like a vital sign. What if we do not care about high blood pressure? Or if we did not know that smoking was bad for us? Social connection is like a key vital sign. We simply have no tendency to recognize it.”
In a little connected studyHolt-Lutad and Proctor, as well as the co-authors of the best research medical centers, questioned 681 health care providers (mainly doctors) on the perception of health risks associated with poor social connection. Similar to the general population of the first study, health care providers underestimated social ties as a medically relevant health factor.
The researchers gleaned unexpected ideas due to an involuntary time lag in data collection in the second study.
“We have completed data collection at two different times because we expected institutional approvals. Our first cohort was health care providers through the University of Utah’s health system. A little later, we had a second major cohort from the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) Physicians, “said Holt-Lunstad. “What was interesting is that the perceived importance of social factors was a little higher among the UCSF group.”
The authors attribute higher awareness of the UCSF at the University Research and evaluation network of social interventions As well as the publication of the opinion of the surgeon General 2023, which was released just before the second cohort was questioned. This suggests that social initiatives and institutional support make a difference in the perceived importance of social connection.
“What I hope is that these studies can stimulate recognition that there is a set of evidence showing social bond as medically relevant,” said Holt-Lunstad. “Together, these articles make a truly convincing case that not only does the general public underestimate this, but should health care providers also know this information.”
“Awareness can make a difference,” said Holt-Lunstad. “This is the first step, but consciousness is not enough.”
Research highlights the need for education and strategies for health care providers as well as the need for a revised health program and public health campaigns. Future research includes how to combat obstacles perceived to integrated medical treatment and usable strategies such as “social prescription”.