The effects of social isolation stress and discrimination on mental health

Summary & key facts

Social isolation and discrimination are linked with worse physical and mental health, more illness and higher death rates, and a lower quality of life. This review combines animal and human research and clinical studies. Animal studies show that social separation, especially early in life, activates the body's stress‑hormone system (the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal or HPA axis) and alters brain chemical systems—including long‑lasting drops in serotonin activity and changes in dopamine receptor sensitivity. The same brain systems affected by isolation have been tied to addiction, psychotic, and mood disorders in people. The review notes children and older adults may be especially vulnerable

Key facts:

• Social isolation and discrimination are associated with worse physical and mental health, higher rates of illness and death, and lower quality of life.
• Animal models show social separation stress, especially in early life, activates the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the body’s stress‑hormone system.
• Animal studies report long‑lasting reductions in serotonin turnover (a sign of lower serotonin activity) after social isolation.
• Animal studies also find changes in dopamine receptor sensitivity after social isolation.
• The neurotransmitter systems altered by isolation (serotonin and dopamine, and other systems like glutamate and GABA) have been implicated in addictive, psychotic, and affective (mood) disorders in humans.
• Children may be particularly vulnerable because social isolation and discrimination can have lasting effects on the developing brain.
• The effects of isolation and loneliness are especially strong in situations of social exclusion from discrimination or racism, during disease‑containment measures like quarantine, and among older people facing sociodemographic changes.
• The review says there is a lack of clear knowledge about how to translate basic and experimental findings into clinical care and real‑world interventions.
• The authors highlight the need for new strategies for social inclusion and outreach, and for gender‑, culture‑, and socially sensitive telemedicine and digital mental health interventions.

Abstract

Social isolation and discrimination are growing public health concerns associated with poor physical and mental health. They are risk factors for increased morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life. Despite their detrimental effects on ...

Topics

Employment and Welfare Studies Health disparities and outcomes Racial and Ethnic Identity Research

Categories

Health Social Sciences

Tags

Biology Clinical psychology Isolation (microbiology) Linguistics Mental health Microbiology Philosophy Psychiatry Psychology Psychotherapist Schizophrenia (object-oriented programming) Social isolation Social stress Stress (linguistics)