Loneliness is a pervasive epidemic in society, escalating since the 1950s. It's subjective, distinct from isolation, and can occur even in a crowd or marriage. Factors contributing to this loneliness include societal mobility, disrupted social networks, and the impact of the digital revolution. Research by Julianne Holt-Lunstad equates loneliness to health risks, such as smoking. Loneliness accelerates late-life brain decline, emphasizing the importance of relationships in overall well-being. Lonely individuals may inadvertently deter connection, requiring encouragement to signal their openness.
Vocabulary:
• Crowd: A large group of people gathered together.
• Pervasive: Something widespread or present everywhere.
• Income group: People with similar levels of money.
• Demographic (noun): characteristics like age, income, and gender that define a group of people.
• To get disrupted: When something is disturbed or interrupted, causing a change.
• To tear away: To separate or remove forcefully.
• House of worship: A place where people gather for religious activities, like a church, mosque, or temple.
• To check out: to pay for what you have bought in a store.
• Casual: informal.
Source: Big Think YouTube channel.