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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.
Much of the elderly population worldwide is socially isolated. 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 EuromonitorInternational, 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.
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.
Where do I belong? 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.
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.
