Beware, the loneliness can be contagious

Last Updated on Sunday, 1 August 2010 08:18 Written by putra Friday, 16 July 2010 04:38

Perhaps many do not realize the feeling of isolation can be infectious to others around, because all this people know that the only pleasure that can be contagious. Now if there is someone who is lonely, immediately entertain them, so you do not come to feel lonely, too.

When there is one person in a group that was beginning to feel lonely, then negative emotions will quickly spread to other people around him. This increases the risk of someone affected by loneliness.

This study was conducted over 10 years, involving 5100 people and social groups. Researchers track the loneliness of the participants from time to time by asking how many days a week they feel lonely. Apparently, the loneliness can be transmitted through social networks when out with friends.

This study was conducted by researchers from the University of Chicago, University of California and Harvard University. The results have been published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Fact says the average person experiences loneliness approximately 48 days a year, but if you have a friend who often felt lonely will create a sense of loneliness from the person increased by 17 days a year. Conversely if you have one friend who cheery, can reduce the sense of loneliness to 5 percent.

This study focused on feelings of loneliness experienced by a person not because socially isolated. Loneliness is one form of emotion. Someone not only has the emotion but also show it so that others can read, follow or appreciate what these people feel. Because of that loneliness can be infectious to others around them.

“In certain cases, one can feel lonely even when surrounded by others,” said Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis, a physician and social scientist at Harvard Medical School, as quoted from the New York Times.

Sense of loneliness that is felt by a person can have a negative impact on health. The most common effect is the emergence of perceived stress can trigger premature aging, disturbance in sleep quality and the discovery of the hormone epinephrine in the urine in large quantities that can trigger high blood pressure and faster heart beat.

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