Gender Differences in Loneliness and How to Fight It during the Holidays

“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty”, said Mother Theresa. Many agree.

Loneliness is a subjective feeling of disconnection, emptiness or isolation from others. It can be drastically separate from being alone; one can feel lonely in the middle of a boisterous party or in bed cuddled up to another. The presence or absence of others does not always influence this feeling.

There are many reasons why people may feel lonely. According to the Rice University Counseling Center, loneliness can occur after the loss of a significant relationship, as a result of a separation from either people or places, due to feeling rejected or unworthy, due to a lack of social skills, due to social phobia, as a result of a mental illness, or due to negative thought patterns, such as pessimism or unrealistic expectations for relationships. Unfortunately, the weekly parties and gatherings of the holiday season can make an already lonely person feel lonelier.

The Effects of Loneliness

Loneliness is frequently a fleeting emotion. And, at some point or another, everyone experiences it. However, Dr. Gary J. Kennedy at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine explains that chronic, or long-term, loneliness can have devastating effects on multiple aspects of life, and is being recognized as a public health issue.

Physiological Effects

A study conducted in the Department of Psychology at Brigham Young University reveals that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of early mortality and is comparable to well-established risk factors for mortality, such as obesity, environmental quality, and substance abuse. Severe changes in various body systems in the lonely show that these individuals experience heart damage, weakened immune systems, and muscle and bone deterioration, too.

Psychological Effects

Loneliness is also linked to cognitive decline in older adults, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The people expressing the highest levels of loneliness in the study observed a 20% increased rate of cognitive functioning over 12 years. Additionally, a lack of social support and isolation result in increased rates of depression and alcoholism, weight loss, sleep disturbances, and suicidal ideation. Sadly, the helplessness and hopelessness felt by lonely people stimulates negative, self-defeating thought patterns that perpetuate the cycle of loneliness. When loneliness triggers feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, seek professional help as soon as possible.

Lonely Man, Lonely Woman: What’s the Difference?

As other emotional states are uniquely distinct across genders, so is the concept of loneliness. Research shows that men and women have different standards in assessing their loneliness. When measuring social network structure and perceived social support, one study found that men with more interconnected friendships reported less loneliness, while that interconnectedness did not appear fundamental in women’s reports of loneliness. In contrast, women were more concerned about the quality of smaller, dyadic relationships rather than the group structure.

The manner in which others respond to loneliness between genders also varies. Apparently, test subjects were more likely to reject a lonely male in comparison to a lonely female. This suggests that there are adverse social consequences of reporting negative emotional states in men, which may shed light on men’s general tendency to deny their feelings of loneliness.

Overcoming Loneliness during the Holidays

With the end of the year approaching, the feelings of loneliness, sadness, self-reflection and depression that result in “holiday blues” are in full swing. Luckily, there are ways to combat loneliness felt year round.

• Reach out to others. The worse thing one can do when feeling sad or alone is to further withdraw socially. Women may be more likely to share feelings of loneliness (and reach out for social connection), but men can still receive the companionship and comfort they need by scheduling plenty of time to hang with a dense network of friends or family.
• Spend time alone. Balance time spent in the company of others with time spent on your own engaging in activities you find comforting or relaxing, such as meditating or reading.
• Take care of yourself. Try to maintain general health and well-being to fend off loneliness and depression over the holidays. Eat healthy, balanced meals at least three times per day, get regular exercise, and aim to sleep 8 hours each night.
• Give back. Volunteering or doing something for someone else can help you connect with others socially and improve your mood and self-esteem.
• Don’t worry about sticking to traditions. If your circumstances call for an unconventional holiday season, go with it. Trying a new way of celebrating may actually bring you more joy.

The Takeaway

Loneliness is a common and normal emotion. However, chronic feelings of loneliness can lead to detrimental health problems and mental illnesses such as anxiety or depression. You can overcome loneliness felt during the holiday season by spending time with people who are supportive of you or developing new relationships with people who have common interests. Talk to a doctor if your feelings of loneliness translate into extreme hopelessness, depression, or thoughts of harming yourself.

About the Author

Veranda Hillard-Charleston is Chief Contributing Editor at Masters in Psychology Guide.com. Veranda received her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. She has more than five years of experience as a trained mental health professional. To learn more about Veranda click here.