Veterinary Wellness Briefs: Combating Loneliness 

In 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy released a report titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. He reported that approximately half of U.S. adults experience loneliness, with some of the highest rates found among young adults. 

Social Isolation and Loneliness

Researchers typically detect a lack of social connection by measuring loneliness and social isolation. Social isolation and loneliness are related, but they are not the same. Social isolation occurs when someone has infrequent social interactions and few social relationships, social roles, or group memberships. Loneliness is the distressing experience that results from perceived isolation or an unmet need for belonging.  

Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29%, respectively, according to Murthy’s report. A lack of social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. In addition, poor or insufficient social connection is associated with an increased risk of disease, anxiety, depression, and dementia.  

How to Increase Social Connection

Social connection can be difficult for equine practitioners because of their busy schedules. The long hours and lack of control over emergency calls can make it challenging to commit to after-work activities. It’s hard to join a book club or play volleyball on Thursday nights if you frequently work late or are physically and mentally exhausted. But one of the secrets to combating loneliness is to increase social connections. Prioritizing these activities means creating some boundaries at work.  

Suggestions for increasing connection include nurturing your relationships through consistent, frequent engagement with people who matter to you. Make time each day to reach out to a friend or family member, even briefly. Increase the quality of the time you spend with others. One way to do this is to avoid checking your phone during meals with friends, important conversations, and family time. Consider silencing your phone notifications to avoid being distracted.  

Helping others through community service is another good way to increase social connection. Whether helping your family, coworkers, friends, or strangers in your community, this is a powerful way to achieve a sense of belonging. Participating in groups centered around fitness, religion, hobbies, or community service can go a long way toward fostering a sense of belonging, meaning, and purpose.  

Many people who feel lonely tend to isolate themselves even more in times of distress. It is imperative to take intentional steps to increase connection. Commit to getting dinner with a friend every month, arrange to regularly walk your dog with a dog-owning neighbor, or plan to call a family member every Sunday evening. Participate in your local veterinary association’s monthly or quarterly dinner meetings or volunteer to plan such events. The most important thing to remember is once you get yourself in action, you are likely to feel grateful that you forced yourself to act. Even though you might prefer to curl up on the couch and watch Netflix, interacting with other people outside of work can enrich your life and make it longer and healthier.  

Related Reading

• Veterinary Wellness Briefs: Understanding Quality of Life Measures
• Veterinary Wellness Briefs: Tips for Managing Anxiety
• Veterinary Wellness Briefs: Volunteerism and Mental Health

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