Loneliness and mortality

Beller et al. (2018)

Loneliness, social isolation, their synergistic interaction, and mortality

Longitudinal Cohort

Primary finding: The authors found that the effects of loneliness and social isolation synergistically interact with each other: The higher the social isolation, the larger the effect of loneliness on mortality, and the higher the loneliness, the larger the effect of social isolation. Authors reccomend that both constructs are important in predicting health. Researchers and practitioners should consider loneliness, social isolation, and their interaction whenever possible.


Rico-Uribe et al. (2018)

Association of loneliness with all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis

Systematic Review and Meta Analysis

Primary finding: From 35 articles the authors conclude that loneliness is a risk factor for all-cause mortality [pooled HR = 1.22, 95% CI = (1.10, 1.35), p < 0.001] for both genders together, and for women [pooled HR = 1.26, 95% CI = (1.07, 1.48); p = 0.005] and men [pooled HR = 1.44; 95% CI = (1.19, 1.76); p < 0.001] separately.


Holt-Lunstad et al. (2015)

Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review

Systematic Review and Meta Analysis

Primary finding: Across 70 reports, Social isolation (OR = 1.29), loneliness (OR = 1.26), and living alone (OR = 1.32) were associated with increased odds of mortality.


Steptoe et al. (2013)

Social isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women

Longitudinal Study

Primary finding: The association of social isolation with mortality was unchanged when loneliness was included in the model. Both social isolation and loneliness were associated with increased mortality. However, the effect of loneliness was not independent of demographic characteristics or health problems and did not contribute to the risk associated with social isolation.


Marziali et al. (2021)

Social Isolation and Mortality Among People Living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada

Longitudinal Study

Primary finding: Mortality was assessed longitudinally up to and including December 31st, 2017. Through multivariable logistic regression, an association between SI and all-cause mortality was found (adjusted OR: 1.48; 95% CI 1.08, 2.01). These findings emphasize the need to mitigate effects of social isolation among PLHIV.


Pantell et al. (2013)

Social Isolation: A Predictor of Mortality Comparable to Traditional Clinical Risk Factors

Longitudinal Study

Primary finding: Socially isolated men and women had worse unadjusted survival curves than less socially isolated individuals. Cox models revealed that social isolation predicted mortality for both genders, as did smoking and high blood pressure. The strength of social isolation as a predictor of mortality is similar to that of well-documented clinical risk factors. Our results suggest the importance of assessing patients’ level of social isolation.