4 ms·

How much is related to people suffering a medical emergency and nobody being around to help? vs. How much is the actual emotional impact of loneliness?

lapcat 1y ago
The article cites many measurable negative health effects aside from death, so it seems that the emotional impact does matter a lot.
mongol 1y ago
This is a very valid question. I have had a few close calls where I afterwards wonder what would have happened if I had hurt myself seriously. Chances are, no one would have paid attention in days.
stared 1y ago
Its anecdotical (though, I guess, there is plenty of data for that), but often people (especially men) don't visit a doctor early enough. It takes their partner (of friends, kids) to prompt them to get checked. Medical emergencies might be a cherry on the cake - but let's not forget that most diseases are not instantaneous - and sooner these are cached, less harm.
trentnix 1y ago
It doesn't even have to be medical emergencies that go unnoticed. There are other declining health metrics that an independent observer might notice that a person is not aware of or is unwilling to confront. If there's no one to say "you might want to get that checked out", you probably won't get that checked out! No mistake, almost all of us can refer to an anecdote of an elderly relative dying soon after their spouse. It can be both tragic and, in hindsight, romantic. But really, the consequences of loneliness are often and unfortunately quite practical.
- AaronAPU 1y ago
  There’s another side where the people you’re around downplay any sort of medical concern you have and actually discourage getting help. So I guess you have: bad company < no company < good company
  - trentnix 1y ago
    That's only the case if you're unaware you're in bad company! I've known a few people that were excellent weathervanes as long as you were aware there were going to always be wrong by 180 degrees.
    - AaronAPU 1y ago
      That’s a good framing. Just gotta be careful not to let it turn you cynical over time.
kristopolous 1y ago
I saw an analysis that demonstrated this clearly by replacing loneliness with population density. Effectively you could see the same mortality effect for people who live out in the sticks.

lapcat 1y ago

The article cites many measurable negative health effects aside from death, so it seems that the emotional impact does matter a lot.

mongol 1y ago

This is a very valid question. I have had a few close calls where I afterwards wonder what would have happened if I had hurt myself seriously. Chances are, no one would have paid attention in days.

stared 1y ago

Its anecdotical (though, I guess, there is plenty of data for that), but often people (especially men) don't visit a doctor early enough. It takes their partner (of friends, kids) to prompt them to get checked. Medical emergencies might be a cherry on the cake - but let's not forget that most diseases are not instantaneous - and sooner these are cached, less harm.

trentnix 1y ago

It doesn't even have to be medical emergencies that go unnoticed. There are other declining health metrics that an independent observer might notice that a person is not aware of or is unwilling to confront. If there's no one to say "you might want to get that checked out", you probably won't get that checked out! No mistake, almost all of us can refer to an anecdote of an elderly relative dying soon after their spouse. It can be both tragic and, in hindsight, romantic. But really, the consequences of loneliness are often and unfortunately quite practical.

AaronAPU 1y ago
There’s another side where the people you’re around downplay any sort of medical concern you have and actually discourage getting help. So I guess you have: bad company < no company < good company
- trentnix 1y ago
  That's only the case if you're unaware you're in bad company! I've known a few people that were excellent weathervanes as long as you were aware there were going to always be wrong by 180 degrees.
  - AaronAPU 1y ago
    That’s a good framing. Just gotta be careful not to let it turn you cynical over time.

kristopolous 1y ago

I saw an analysis that demonstrated this clearly by replacing loneliness with population density. Effectively you could see the same mortality effect for people who live out in the sticks.