The Effects of Loneliness

We humans are a social species. But 60 million Americans say they feel so isolated, it’s a major source of unhappiness in their lives. That troubling finding is even more startling when we consider how loneliness can impact our health, and speed up the aging process. For the body, the effects of isolation are comparable to high blood pressure, smoking and obesity.

John Cacioppo is co-author, with William Patrick, of Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection, a new book that brings us up to date on the effects of isolation on the body and the brain. Cacioppo is also president of the Association for Psychological Science and professor at the University of Chicago.

Test yourself on the UCLA loneliness scale

We also meet a musician who finds isolation fuels his creativity. In 2002, Chicago violinist and songwriter Andrew Bird moved out to a family farm in western Illinois and converted an old barn into a studio and living space. Isolated from people, his band, even the radio, he found his music developing into something he never expected. The piece was produced by Jonathan Menjivar, and originally aired on Studio 360.

Andrew Bird will be performing at the Portsmouth Music Hall on October 8th. Click here for more information. And below, watch Andrew Bird perform his song "Spare Ohs" on the streets of Paris, as part of the series "Concerts à Emporter."

(Photo by le père)