Living alone ups risk of mental disorders, reveals study

In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, the researchers revealed that common mental disorders was higher in individuals living alone than in those not living alone.

IANS | Published: May 2, 2019 1:37 pm

Regardless of age and sex, mental health problems are more common in lonely people. ©Shutterstock

Mental health problems are more common in people living alone regardless of age and sex, says a study.

“The prevalence of common mental disorders was higher in individuals living alone than in those not living alone in all survey years,” the study noted.

For the study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, the researchers used data on 20,500 individuals aged 16-64 living in England who participated in the 1993, 2000, or 2007 National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys.

Whether a person had a common mental disorder (CMD) was assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R), a questionnaire focusing on neurotic symptoms.

The study found that the prevalence of people living alone in 1993, 2000, and 2007 was 8.8 per cent, 9.8 per cent, and 10.7 per cent.

They found a positive association between living alone and common mental disorder.

In different subgroups of people, living alone increased a person’s risk for common mental disorder by 1.39 to 2.43 times, the study said.

“Living alone is positively associated with common mental disorders in the general population in England,” said study co-author Louis Jacob from the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France.

Globally, the lifetime prevalence of CMDs is around 30 per cent. These disorders have a major impact on quality of life, physical illness and mortality.

The researchers also suggest that interventions, which tackle loneliness, might aid the mental well-being of individuals living alone.

Published: May 2, 2019 1:37 pm

Disclaimer: TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any specific results as a result of the procedures mentioned here and the results may vary from person to person. The topics in these pages including text, graphics, videos and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice.

Do you have pain in your groin? You may be suffering from hernia

World Tuna Day 2019: Here is why you should have this fish in your salads and sandwiches

About The health Site

Useful Links