The emotional pain associated with loneliness can severely affect mental and physical health. The impact of loneliness has the same effect on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, which studies say “makes it even more dangerous than obesity.”
It may not be surprising that loneliness in young adults isn’t due to one reason but rather several different factors, including:
The teen brain. The amygdala — the area of the brain that regulates emotions –is still developing and doesn’t fully mature until approximately age 25. Additionally, the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls reasoning, also develops later. It’s one of the reasons young people take more risks and react to things more dramatically. It is also why teens feel the negative emotional impact of loneliness more intensely.
Substances. Research shows teens and young adults who use drugs or alcohol can change or delay the development of parts of the brain.
Types of socializing. Compared with previous generations, today’s youth spend their leisure time much differently. Instead of socializing in person, going out with others, shopping, attending parties, riding around in cars or hanging out at the movies, teens are more likely to spend time online and using social media. In addition to being “disconnected” from in-person socializing and creating isolation situations, social media can portray the lives of others in ways that seem “more perfect” than their own. This practice leaves teens feeling like they are missing out, which leads to feelings of alienation and loneliness.
Surveys have shown feelings of chronic loneliness were associated with an increased risk of depression a year later. Because teens aren’t accustomed to feelings of loneliness and don’t have the life experience to know that the emotions often pass, it leads to a higher risk of substance use and suicide.
Coping with loneliness
Teens need to be taught that feeling lonely sometimes is OK. When loneliness persists, teens might need some extra support. Here are some tips for coping:
Instead of trying to escape the feeling, acknowledge it and accept that it is natural.
Talk to someone you trust and express your feelings.
Interact with someone in person. Studies show frequent, meaningful in-person interactions resulted in much lower loneliness scores.
Instead of withdrawing, do something you enjoy, such as writing, art or sports. Studies show exercise improves health and decreases loneliness.
Get enough rest. The right amount of sleep was shown to lower loneliness scores. Additionally, people who reported sleeping long enough but not too long were significantly more likely to have close friends and make connections with others.
Building healthy habits and finding ways to connect with peers, family and the world can help ward off loneliness.