Loneliness is infectious: study
Source: Agencies |
December 2, 2009, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LONELINESS, like the flu, is contagious, American research shows.
It can spread among groups of people and women are more likely than men to become "infected," according to researchers at the University of Chicago, the University of California-San Diego and Harvard.
Using data from a large-scale study, they found lonely people tend to transmit their sad feelings to those around them, which eventually led to them being isolated from society.
"We detected an extraordinary pattern of contagion that leads people to be moved to the edge of the social network when they become lonely," said University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo.
The findings were published in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Before losing their friends, lonely people transmit feelings of loneliness to their remaining friends, who also become lonely.
"On the periphery people have fewer friends, yet their loneliness leads them to losing the few ties they have left," Cacioppo said. "These reinforcing effects mean that our social fabric can fray at the edges, like a yarn that comes loose at the end of a crocheted sweater."
Because loneliness is associated with mental and physical diseases that can shorten life, Cacioppo said it is important for people to recognize loneliness and help those affected before they move away to the edges.
It can spread among groups of people and women are more likely than men to become "infected," according to researchers at the University of Chicago, the University of California-San Diego and Harvard.
Using data from a large-scale study, they found lonely people tend to transmit their sad feelings to those around them, which eventually led to them being isolated from society.
"We detected an extraordinary pattern of contagion that leads people to be moved to the edge of the social network when they become lonely," said University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo.
The findings were published in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Before losing their friends, lonely people transmit feelings of loneliness to their remaining friends, who also become lonely.
"On the periphery people have fewer friends, yet their loneliness leads them to losing the few ties they have left," Cacioppo said. "These reinforcing effects mean that our social fabric can fray at the edges, like a yarn that comes loose at the end of a crocheted sweater."
Because loneliness is associated with mental and physical diseases that can shorten life, Cacioppo said it is important for people to recognize loneliness and help those affected before they move away to the edges.
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