Estimating the Mental Health Effects of Social Isolation

Abstract

It is frequently hypothesized that feelings of social isolation are detrimental for an individual's mental health, however standard statistical models cannot estimate this effect due to reverse causality between the independent and dependent variables. In this paper we present endogeneity-corrected estimates of the mental health consequences of isolation (based on self-assessed loneliness scores) using Australian panel data. The central identification strategy comes from a natural source of variation where some people within our sample are required by work or study commitments to move home. This relocation may break individuals' social ties, resulting in significantly higher reported feelings of loneliness and consequently may lower mental health scores. The method gives results that are significant, robust and pass a battery of diagnostic tests. Estimates indicate that feelings of isolation have large negative consequences for psychological well-being, and that the effects are larger for women and older people. The results suggest that at current levels, a 10 % reduction applied to all individuals would reduce annual expenditure on mental illness in Australia by approximately $3B AUD, or around $150 AUD per person.

Seafarers’ depression and suicide

“…Separation from life ashore with months spent away from home and few opportunities for communication contribute to feelings of social isolation (explicitly discussed in [12] and [8]; see also Rhode et al [30] for isolation and loneliness and Shattell et al [31] and Apostolopoulos et al [32] for the social isolation of truckers). Besides direct reports of adverse effect on wellbeing other evidence gives support to the importance of social isolation as a challenge to seafarers' mental health.…”

Identification with arts‐based groups improves mental wellbeing in adults with chronic mental health conditions

“…It is clear the latter view has value as it has been found that psychosocial factors are clearly implicated in the development, maintenance and recovery from CMHC (Dixon et al, ; Haslam, Jetten, Cruwys, Dingle, & Haslam, ). In particular, people with CMHC frequently experience social isolation and marginalisation (Corrigan, Markowitz & Watson, ; Rohde, D’Ambrosio, Tang, & Rao, ), which often worsens their symptoms (Topora et al, ; Wright, Gronfein & Owens, ). There is therefore a pressing need to develop evidence‐based social interventions to sustain wellbeing in adults experiencing CMHC (Johnson, ).…”

“…Correspondingly, evidence shows that social isolation is a risk factor for mental illness (Rohde et al, ). Isolation gives rise to a depressive attribution style, where failures are attributed to internal, stable, or global causes (Cruwys et al, ).…”

“…In particular, people with CMHC frequently experience social isolation and marginalisation (Corrigan, Markowitz & Watson, 2004;Rohde, D'Ambrosio, Tang, & Rao, 2016), which often worsens their symptoms (Topora et al, 2014;Wright, Gronfein & Owens, 2000).…”

From HIV to Coronavirus: AIDS Service Organizations Adaptative Responses to COVID-19, Birmingham, Alabama

“…During February 2020, BAO provided 76 counseling sessions and had 12 new clients initiate counseling services, while, in March 2020, BAO provided 110 counseling sessions and 16 new clients initiate counseling services. It is possible that this increase in counseling services is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic given that social isolation, a hallmark of the social distancing response required to slow the rate of new COVID-19 infections, has been linked to an increase in negative mental health outcomes such decreased wellbeing [5] and increased depression [6,7] and anxiety [7]. Employment disruption may also have a negative impact on mental health.…”