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  3. Keeping yourself happy and healthy (current) /
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  6. The science behind the campaign (current)

The science behind the campaign

Our loneliness campagin is supported by a variety of research and a range of studies that highlight the impact of isolation and loneliness on a person's wellbeing.

They include:

  • Loneliness increasing the likelihood of early death by 26% (Holt-Lunstad, 2015).
  • Loneliness and isolation is more detrimental to your health than obesity and as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad, 2010).
  • The Covid pandemic increasing sedentary behaviours (Stockwell and et al, 2021).
  • Loneliness puts you at greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia (Rafnsson, 2020).

 

References:

  • Holt-Lunstad J, Smith T, Baker M, Harris T, and Stephenson D. Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review. Perspectives on Psychological Science. 2015.
  • Stockwell S, Trott M, Tully M, Shin J, Barnett Y, Butler L, McDermott D, Schuch F, Smith L. Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a systematic review. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine. 2021.
  • Rafnsson SB, Orrell M, d’Orsi E, Hogervorst E, Steptoe A and et al. Loneliness, social integration and incident dementia over 6 years: prospective findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The Journals of Gerontology. 2020.