The Studies Show

Episode 35: The loneliness epidemic

Apr 30, 2024

Is there really a loneliness epidemic? The health risks of loneliness are compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Trends in loneliness among different age groups are analyzed. The debate on loneliness versus smoking's impact on health is explored. The societal impact of loneliness and the decline of in-person interactions are discussed.

54:48

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Quick takeaways

Loneliness is compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, emphasizing its severe impact on health.

The correlation between loneliness and mortality is debated, raising questions about the causal relationship.

The narrative of the loneliness epidemic reflects societal concerns over shifting social dynamics and interaction patterns.

Deep dives

The Examined Concern over the Loneliness Epidemic

The heightened focus on the loneliness epidemic stems from societal changes leading to less in-person interaction and increased social atomization. It reflects a broader unease over shifts in social dynamics and harkens back to perceived simpler, more connected times.

Introduction

2min

Loneliness Epidemic and Health Comparisons

11min

Loneliness Epidemic Among Women: Trends and Debates

14min

The Impact of Asteroids on Civilization

4min

Loneliness Trends in Different Age Groups

4min

The Loneliness vs. Smoking Debate

17min

Exploring the Societal Impact of Loneliness

3min

We can all agree that being lonely is bad. But apparently, science shows it’s really, really bad. Indeed, being lonely is so dangerous to your health that its equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And it gets worse: we’re in the middle of a loneliness epidemic, meaning that the health of millions is at risk.

In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart ask two questions: is there actually a loneliness epidemic? And does it make sense to compare loneliness to something as bad for you as smoking cigarettes?

The Studies Show is brought to you by Works in Progress magazine. Click here to see the latest issue, packed with essays on YIMBYism, clinical research, Russian history, railway tunnels, and more.

Show notes

* The US Surgeon General’s report into “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation”

* Articles on the loneliness epidemic from the BBC, NPR, the BBC again, the New York Times, the New York Times again, and Science magazine

* 2023 article in The Times (London) that makes the 15-cigarettes-a-day comparison

* The 2017 Jo Cox report on “Combatting Loneliness”

* 2010 meta-analysis of social relationships and mortality risk

* American Time Use Survey, 2003-2020

* Meta-Gallup poll from 2022 on “The Global State of Social Connections”

* Are US older adults getting lonelier (2019 study)? What about “emerging adults” (2021 meta-analysis)?

* Comparison between younger-old people and older-old people on their loneliness levels

* 2017 review study on the health effects of loneliness

* 2023: systematic review no.1, systematic review no.2, both into the effects of loneliness on health

* 2005 study on the health effects of smoking tobacco

Credits

* The Studies Show is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions.

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The Studies Show

Episode 35: The loneliness epidemic

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Examined Concern over the Loneliness Epidemic

Challenging the Comparison between Loneliness and Smoking

Questioning the Causal Association of Loneliness with Mortality

Critical Evaluation of Research Methodology and Cherry-Picked Data

Broader Implications of Social Changes on Public Health Narratives

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts