scholarly journals Loneliness and Health

Psychology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna Shankar
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risky Health Behaviors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Teenagers And Young Adults ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Perceived Social Isolation

In January 2018, the UK became the first country in the world to appoint a Minister for Loneliness. This highlights growing concerns about loneliness in societies, and its deleterious effects on individual health and well-being. Loneliness or perceived social isolation is a subjective experience relating to dissatisfaction with one’s social relationships. Most research has focused on the experience of loneliness in old age, but levels of loneliness are also known to be high among teenagers and young adults. While poor health may be associated with increased feelings of loneliness, there is now considerable evidence on the role of loneliness as a risk factor for poor mental and physical health. Studies suggest that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and chronic diseases, and also with a higher rate of Mortality. Risky Health Behaviors, a poor cardiovascular profile, and compromised immune functioning have all been proposed as potential pathways through which loneliness may affect health. However, much still remains to be understood about these Mechanisms. This bibliography starts with a section on chapters and reviews that provide a theoretical basis for understanding the associations between social relationships and health, as well as some reviews of the Health Effects of loneliness. This is followed by sections that focus on specific outcomes, health effects (mortality, general health and physical function, cognitive function and Mental Health), and Healthcare Utilization. The subsequent section examines research into the pathways through which loneliness affects health. The final section examines interventions to reduce loneliness and the associated effects on health outcomes.

Loneliness and Health

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna Shankar
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Immune Functioning ◽  
Risky Health Behaviors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Teenagers And Young Adults ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
Perceived Social Isolation ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Loneliness or perceived social isolation is a subjective experience relating to dissatisfaction with one’s social relationships. Most research has focused on the experience of loneliness in old age, but levels of loneliness are also known to be high among teenagers and young adults. While poor health may be associated with increased feelings of loneliness, there is now considerable evidence on the role of loneliness as a risk factor for poor mental and physical health. Studies show that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and chronic diseases, and also with a higher rate of mortality. Risky health behaviors, a poor cardiovascular profile and compromised immune functioning have all been proposed as potential pathways through which loneliness may affect health. However, much still remains to be understood about these mechanisms.

Reflex syncope in the UK Armed Forces

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2021-001945
Author(s):  
Iain Parsons ◽  
J Ellwood ◽  
M J Stacey ◽  
N Gall ◽  
M Grundy-Bowers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Information ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Well Being ◽  
British Army ◽  
Royal Air Force ◽  
Reflex Syncope ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Case Rate ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Military

IntroductionReflex syncope is the most common subtype of syncope and, despite not being associated with increased mortality, often results in significant morbidity and costly diagnostics. Reflex syncope can be of concern for certain occupational groups and may be exacerbated by some occupations. Reflex syncope in the military is anecdotally common but the extent in the UK Armed Forces (UKAF) is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and prevalence of reflex syncope in the UKAF.MethodsA retrospective search of the Defence Medical Information Capability Programme using prespecified read-codes was performed at defence primary healthcare centres over the period of 1 January 2019 to 1 January 2020. Data were obtained on 76 103 service personnel (SP) (53% of the UKAF).ResultsThe overall syncope case rate for the UKAF was 10.5 per 1000 person-years (p-yrs). In comparing services there was a significantly increased risk of syncope in the British Army (10.7 per 1000 p-yrs) compared with the Royal Air Force (8.6 per 1000 p-yrs) (p=0.0365), SP who served overseas (16.7 per 1000 p-yrs) in comparison with UK medical centres (10.3 per 1000 p-yrs) (p<0.0001), and British Army units that regularly took part in State Ceremonial and Public Duties (15.8 per 1000 p-yrs vs 10.2 per 1000 p-yrs) (p=0.0035). Army training units conferred a significantly reduced risk of syncope (p<0.0001).ConclusionsThese data are the first to define the incidence and prevalence of syncope in the UKAF. Orthostasis and heat are probable triggers, although recruits are potentially protected. These data offer opportunities to improve the health and well-being of SP, with economic, logistical and reputational benefits for the UKAF. Further research to identify personnel at risk of future syncopal events may allow for targeted use of countermeasures.

scholarly journals The health and well-being effects of drought: assessing multi-stakeholder perspectives through narratives from the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 163 (4) ◽  
pp. 2073-2095
Author(s):  
Kimberly Bryan ◽  
Sarah Ward ◽  
Liz Roberts ◽  
Mathew P. White ◽  
Owen Landeg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being

AbstractThe global literature on drought and health highlights a variety of health effects for people in developing countries where certain prevailing social, economic and environmental conditions increase their vulnerability especially with climate change. Despite increased focus on climate change, relatively less is known about the health-drought impacts in the developed country context. In the UK, where climate change–related risk of water shortages has been identified as a key area for action, there is need for better understanding of drought-health linkages. This paper assesses people’s narratives of drought on health and well-being in the UK using a source-receptor-impact framing. Stakeholder narratives indicate that drought can present perceived health and well-being effects through reduced water quantity, water quality, compromised hygiene and sanitation, food security, and air quality. Heatwave associated with drought was also identified as a source of health effects through heat and wildfire, and drought-related vectors. Drought was viewed as potentially attributing both negative and positive effects for physical and mental health, with emphasis on mental health. Health impacts were often complex and cross-sectoral in nature indicating the need for a management approach across several sectors that targets drought and health in risk assessment and adaptation planning processes. Two recurring themes in the UK narratives were the health consequences of drought for ‘at-risk’ groups and the need to target them, and that drought in a changing climate presented potential health implications for at-risk groups.

scholarly journals Smoking and COVID-19: A Literature Review of Cohort Studies in Non-Chinese Population Settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 1179173X2098867
Author(s):  
Aoife Rodgers ◽  
Manasi Nadkarni ◽  
Emilie Kruke Indreberg ◽  
Lenah Alfallaj ◽  
Zubair Kabir
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Chinese Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Smoking History ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Potential Association ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Uk

Background: Smoking history and its potential association with COVID-19 has attracted many researchers and the lay public alike. However, the studies published to date have several methodological limitations and are mainly from China. We set out to synthesize evidence on smoking and COVID-19 relationship drawn on cohort studies only which are published in non-Chinese population settings. Method: A systematic literature search was undertaken drawn on predefined eligibility criteria and a comprehensive search strategy following the PRISMA guideline between January 2020 and August 2020, excluding preprints and gray literature. Three specific outcomes were examined: smoking history, SARS-CoV2 infection, and COVID-19 severity. Results: Of an eligible 40 full-text studies, 7 cohort studies outside of China were finally included in this literature review through independent reviewing. Four studies were from the UK, 2 from the United States, and 1 from Turkey. The sample size ranged from 200 to more than 5000 participants. The findings broadly point to 1 direction, a higher smoking prevalence and an increased risk of smoking history on both SARS-CoV2 infection and on COVID-19 severity. Conclusion: A smoking history (either current or past) seems to negatively impact both SARS-CoV2 infection and COVID-19 severity. However, such an observation strengthens the argument to continue smoking cessation efforts both for individuals and for the general population health and well-being.

scholarly journals Ikke-audiologiske helseeffekter av støy

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunn Marit Aasvang ◽  
Norun Hjertager Krog
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmental Noise ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Sound

<span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><p align="left">Denne artikkelen oppsummerer eksisterende kunnskap om helsevirkninger av miljøstøy. Nedsatt hørsel som følge av eksponering for høye lydnivåer blant annet i yrkessammenheng er godt dokumentert, og vil ikke omtales i særlig grad. Denne artikkelen vil først og fremst fokusere på ikke-hørselsrelaterte virkninger av den støy som vi har i omgivelsene, hvor de vanligste støykildene er fra samferdsel og industri. Selv om støyens virkninger på spesielt sårbare grupper, som for eksempel barn, er et viktig tema, vil helsevirkningene som omtales her først og fremst være gjeldende for en generell voksen befolkning. Negative helseeffekter av støy er knyttet til støy som en fysiologisk aktiverende stressfaktor som påvirker adferd, trivsel, kommunikasjon, hvile og søvn. Nyere studier antyder også en sammenheng mellom støy og økt risiko for hjerte-karsykdom.</p><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><p align="left">This paper summarises existing knowledge about health effects of environmental noise. Reduced hearing due to exposure to high sound pressure levels, for instance in the work-place, is well documented, and is not a topic of this presentation. The paper focuses on non-audiological effects of environmental noise. Although effects of noise on especially vulnerable groups such as children are important issues, this article focuses on the effects that can be demonstrated in the general population. The most common sources of environmental noise are transport and industry. Adverse health effects are related to noise as a physiologically activating stress factor that influences behaviour, well-being, rest and sleep. Some recent studies do also indicate that there may be a relationship between noise and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.</p></span></span></span></span>

Neurobiology of Child Maltreatment and Psychological Trauma

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikeea Copeland-Linder ◽  
Edore Onigu-Otite ◽  
Jennifer Serico ◽  
Mariflor Jamora ◽  
Harolyn M.E. Belcher
Keyword(s):  
Community Violence ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Direct Exposure ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Physical Health Problems

Trauma is defined as exposure to an event or situation that overwhelms one’s capacity to cope, and threatens or causes harm to mental and physical well-being. This may include direct exposure, witnessing events, or learning about distressing experiences that happened to a loved one. Trauma can have deleterious consequences for children including increased risk for psychopathology, physical health problems, and impairment in several domains of functioning including emotion regulation, academic abilities, and social relationships. Examples of acute or short-lived traumatic experiences include natural disasters, sudden death of a loved one, a terrorist attack, or a number of other one-time occurring distressing events. Children also may experience trauma that is chronic in nature, such as witnessing frequent community violence or exposure to daily war-related violence.

scholarly journals Are young adults with long-standing illness or disability at increased risk of loneliness? Evidence from the UK Longitudinal Household Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan McGlone ◽  
Emily Long
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ordinal Logistic Regression ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Correlation Tests ◽  
The Uk

Background: Recent evidence has shown that young adults experience significant levels of loneliness, and those with long-standing illness or disability (LSID) may be particularly vulnerable. This study investigated whether young adults with LSID were more likely to experience loneliness than their ‘healthy’ peers, after accounting for key socio-contextual and health-related factors associated with loneliness.Design and Methods:  The sample consists of 4510 16-24-year-old individuals from Wave 9 of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS). Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-item loneliness scale, in addition to a direct indicator of frequency of loneliness. Correlation tests measured associations between both measures of loneliness and LSID. Ordinal logistic regression was used to examine the association between LSID and UCLA loneliness, after accounting for key demographic and socio-contextual variables.Results: Results from the correlation tests demonstrated significant associations between LSID and both measures of loneliness. Results from the ordinal logistic regression models indicated that chronic illness was significantly associated with loneliness, after accounting for various demographic, social, and well-being factors. In addition, individuals with fewer close friends reported higher loneliness, as did those with poorer mental health, and low well-being scores. Younger participants, age brackets 16-18 and 19-21, were found to report higher loneliness than the individuals aged 22-24-year-old.Conclusions: Overall, the study found significant evidence of associations between the presence of LSID and loneliness in young adults (16-24 years old), suggesting these individuals are at an increased risk of loneliness, and could be a focus for future public health interventions.

scholarly journals The Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Health and Psychosocial Functioning in Older Adults Aged 70 and Over

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233372142110399
Author(s):  
Sarah Docherty ◽  
Crystal F. Haskell-Ramsay ◽  
Lynn McInnes ◽  
Mark A. Wetherell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Psychosocial Consequences ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Older Populations

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a state-imposed lockdown in the UK; there are many psychosocial consequences of pandemics, with older adults potentially at an increased risk. The current study assessed psychosocial functioning in a sample of older adults in the UK with baseline data collected pre-lockdown and follow-up 12 weeks later during lockdown. Thus, allowing investigation of the effect of COVID-19 and associated lockdown on psychosocial well-being. Thirty-five older adults (Mean age = 76.06, sex = 12 males) participated in this repeated measures study. A final follow-up was then conducted post-lockdown to capture any factors that were viewed as helpful to well-being during lockdown. From pre- to during lockdown, perceived stress, well-being, depressive symptoms, mood disturbance and memory were all significantly worsened. There were significant improvements in self-reported physical health symptoms, social interaction, time spent engaging in physical activity and certain aspects of relationship quality. Follow-up showed that well-being, depression and mood were still negatively affected post-lockdown. Given the sample were all ‘healthy’ at baseline in comparison to established norms, there may be greater impairment in more vulnerable populations. Support for older populations is needed to mitigate the negative effects shown, particularly in light of the endurance of some of these effects post-lockdown.

scholarly journals Discontinuity in the Subjective Experience of Self Among People with Mild-To-Moderate Dementia Is Associated with Poorer Psychological Health: Findings from the IDEAL Cohort

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-138
Author(s):  
Linda Clare ◽  
Anthony Martyr ◽  
Robin G. Morris ◽  
Lynette J. Tippett
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Living Well ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Ideal

Background: The onset and progression of dementia can result in changes in the subjective experience of self, impacting on psychological health. Objective: We aimed to explore the extent to which people with mild-to-moderate dementia experience discontinuity in the subjective experience of self, and the factors associated with this experience for people with dementia and their family caregivers. Methods: We used data from the baseline assessment of the IDEAL cohort. Discontinuity in the subjective experience of self was assessed by asking participants about their agreement with the statement ‘I feel I am the same person that I have always been’. Participants were divided into those who did and did not experience discontinuity, and the two groups were compared in terms of demographic and disease-related characteristics, psychological well-being, measures of ‘living well’, and caregiver stress. Results: Responses to the continuity question were available for 1,465 participants with dementia, of whom 312 (21%) reported experiencing discontinuity. The discontinuity group experienced significantly poorer psychological well-being and had significantly lower scores on measures of ‘living well’. There was no clear association with demographic or disease-related characteristics, but some indication of increased caregiver stress. Conclusion: A significant proportion of people with mild-to-moderate dementia describe experiencing discontinuity in the subjective sense of self, and this is associated with poorer psychological health and reduced ability to ‘live well’ with the condition. Sensitively asking individuals with dementia about the subjective experience of self may offer a simple means of identifying individuals who are at increased risk of poor well-being.

scholarly journals World Trade Center Health Program: First Decade of Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 7290
Author(s):  
Albeliz Santiago-Colón ◽  
Robert Daniels ◽  
Dori Reissman ◽  
Kristi Anderson ◽  
Geoffrey Calvert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
World Trade ◽  
Health Program ◽  
World Trade Center ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Medical Monitoring ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Trade Center

The terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 placed nearly a half million people at increased risk of adverse health. Health effects research began shortly after and continues today, now mostly as a coordinated effort under the federally mandated World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program (WTCHP). Established in 2011, the WTCHP provides medical monitoring and treatment of covered health conditions for responders and survivors and maintains a research program aimed to improve the care and well-being of the affected population. By 2020, funds in excess of USD 127 M had been awarded for health effects research. This review describes research findings and provides an overview of the WTCHP and its future directions. The literature was systematically searched for relevant articles published from 11 September 2001 through 30 June 2020. Synthesis was limited to broad categories of mental health, cancer, respiratory disease, vulnerable populations, and emerging conditions. In total, 944 WTC articles were published, including peer-reviewed articles funded by the WTCHP (n = 291) and other sources. Research has focused on characterizing the burden and etiology of WTC-related health conditions. As the program moves forward, translational research that directly enhances the care of individuals with chronic mental and physical health conditions is needed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document