Question

explain how social isolation can impact on individuals in society

Answer 1

Social isolation is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact of an individual with other members of the society.

The impact of social isolation are:

1. Poor physical health
   1. People who are isolated have poor access to medical care.
   2. This increases the risk of chronic health diseases like hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and dental problems
   3. This lower the health-related quality of life.
2. Increase mortality:
   1. When a person suffers from acute illness ( example - acute flare-up of asthma, acute appendicitis), he/she needs urgent care.
   2. A delay of minutes can lead to death.
   3. A person who stays far away from civilization will have a problem getting help in time.
   4. This could increase the incidence of mortality.
3. Poor mental health
   1. Isolation can increase the feeling of loneliness.
   2. This can give rise to anxiety and depression.
4. Increase in the incidences of suicide
   1. Social isolation reduces the human to human contact.
   2. This gives rise to a feeling of anxiety and depression.
   3. In some cases, it can push a few patients to commit suicide.
5. Reduce levels of intelligence
   1. Our intellect develops with the human interactions we have with one another.
   2. We learn a lot just by observing each other.
   3. Social isolation reduces this interaction and therefore stunts our intellect.
6. Increase in sleep-related breathing disorder.
7. Increase the incidence of dementia in elderly people.