What’s the difference between loneliness and social isolation?

Social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone, regardless of their age, background, and circumstances, although they are more common among some population groups. People, including mental health experts, often refer to loneliness and social isolation as if they mean the same thing. While the two terms can be related, they have very different meanings.

In this article, you’ll find information that answers the following questions:

What is social isolation?
What is loneliness?
How are social isolation and loneliness related?
Who is most at risk of social isolation or loneliness?
Does loneliness affect my health?

What is social isolation?

Social isolation refers to the state of having very little contact with other people. Contact with others brings us benefits in many different ways, and not having it can cause problems. For example, people who are socially isolated may have very little access to social, emotional, and mental support when facing difficulties in life.

What is loneliness?

Loneliness refers to the feeling of having too few or low-quality social relationships. You can usually notice social isolation by looking at a person’s level of social contact, but you cannot easily tell whether that person is lonely. Unlike social isolation, loneliness is a feeling that someone can have even when surrounded by others. When you feel lonely, you may feel that you lack close, meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging. Loneliness may also make you feel as though your actual relationships do not satisfy your need or desire for a certain depth or quality of social connection. We all likely have different expectations for social connection, which means that we may each feel lonely at different levels of social contact.

How are social isolation and loneliness related?

To be socially isolated is to find yourself in circumstances where you have little contact with other people, whereas to be lonely is to feel a lack of contact or connection with other people, regardless of your social circumstances. A person who lives with housemates, has a wide social media following, or shows up to a busy workplace each day, for example, can feel lonely even though they are not socially isolated.

Being able to distinguish between these two concepts is important because not everyone who is lonely is socially isolated, and not everyone who is socially isolated is lonely. However, social isolation can lead to loneliness. Loneliness is also likely to cause social withdrawal, particularly if it goes on for a long time.

Who is most at risk of social isolation or loneliness?

While social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone, they are more likely to be experienced by particular groups, such as people who are on a low income, living alone, identify as LGBTQI+ and/or have an immigration background.

Factors affecting a person’s level of social isolation or loneliness

• Being in the “emerging adult” age range (18-25), or the “older old” age range (85+)
• Belonging to an ethnic minority
• Facing stigma, social marginalisation and/or discrimination
• Facing big transitions that can disrupt a person’s social connections, such as leaving l home or moving to a new area
• Political and/or social changes that impact how and when people can socialise, such as forced migration and displacement
• Facing unemployment
• Facing divorce or separation
• Living in an economically deprived area with limited access to resources
• Living with a long-term mental or physical health condition, especially when this condition is poorly understood
• Living in a rural area with poor transport connections
• Having a history of or currently experiencing ongoing trauma or abuse
• Facing a bereavement or other significant loss
• Being bullied
• Experiencing low levels of self-esteem

Does loneliness affect my health?

Everyone experiences loneliness from time to time. You may have noticed that your levels of loneliness can vary depending on your stage of life and even from day to day. Usually, loneliness passes quickly, and when your overall level of loneliness remains low, it is not a cause for concern.

However, experiencing long-term loneliness that interferes with your overall well-being can lead to psychological distress. It can also increase your risk of developing mental health difficulties. To find out whether you may be experiencing severe loneliness, take a look at our factsheet on the signs of loneliness.

In young people, long-term loneliness has been linked to mental health difficulties, including depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, self-harm, and eating disorders. Young people who experience loneliness and/or social isolation during childhood are also more likely to turn to damaging coping mechanisms later in life.

Research also suggests that loneliness can lead to decreases in your physical health. This includes an increase in your risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and early mortality, through factors such as:

• Changes in health or self-care behaviours, including disruptions to a person’s sleep routine
• Physical responses to stress, such as an increase in blood pressure
• Suboptimal social skills
• Lack of exposure to the physical aspect of social connection, such as hugging

If you suspect you may be experiencing the negative health effects of loneliness, take a look at our article on how to handle loneliness.

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