Social Isolation Tied to Increased Risk of Death, UK Biobank Study Reveals
A new study utilizing data from the United Kingdom’s UK Biobank has shed light on the hazards of social isolation, indicating that never being visited by friends or family led to a 39% increased risk of death. This investigation identified social interactions as more critical to mortality than the individual’s perception of loneliness. Interestingly, the threat of social segregation can be significantly lessened by frequent visits from friends or family.
The Study and Its Key Findings
The undertaking incorporated 458,146 participants from the UK Biobank, with an average follow-up period of 12.6 years, during which 33,135 participants unfortunately passed away. Objective social interactions, especially visits from family and friends, exhibited a stronger connection with mortality than the subjective feelings of isolation. Encouragingly, the study suggests that increasing social visits could appreciably lower isolated individuals’ mortality risk.
A Brief Summary from the Source: BMC
As per the recent findings published in the BMC Medicine report, the absence of regular visits from friends or family is associated with an escalated risk of mortality. This research could assist in identifying patients at a higher risk of death due to social isolation and help devise effective interventions to combat the issue.
About the Study
Researchers used data from 458,146 participants from the UK Biobank. The individuals were recruited between 2006 and 2010, with an average age of 56.5 years. They completed a questionnaire about five types of social interaction: their ability to confide in someone, their feelings of loneliness, the frequency of visits they received from friends or family, their participation in weekly group activities, and their living situation.
The research outcomes revealed that all five types of social interaction were independently associated with mortality. However, reduced mortality was more strongly associated with low levels of the objective measures of social interaction compared to the subjective ones. Non-receipt of visits from friends or family was linked to a 39% higher death risk.
It was also found that the benefit of participating in weekly group activities was not observed in participants who did not receive visits from friends or family. But, individuals who received friend or family visits on at least a monthly basis faced a significantly lower risk, suggesting a potential protective effect from such social interaction.
Conclusion
While the overall strength of association is likely to be applicable across different populations, the sample data from the UK Biobank may not be fully representative of the UK population. Additionally, the social interaction metrics they evaluated were self-reported and relatively rudimentary. The authors propose that future research could delve deeper into the effects of various types of social interaction on mortality or explore how much changes in a type of interaction can best benefit socially isolated individuals.
Reflection as a Psychiatrist
As a psychiatrist, this study underscores the importance of social connections for mental health and overall well-being. It is noteworthy how measurable aspects of social interaction can impact mortality rates considerably. These findings can enable healthcare professionals to develop supportive interventions addressing social isolation, which seems to be a crucial aspect to incorporate in mental health initiatives and treatment plans.
Dr Sophia Williams, MD, Cure of Mind