Loneliness Kills: Why Working Alone Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

Adults in occupations that require little social interaction and lack the opportunity to bond with peers are less satisfied.

Man Working Alone

In the world of work, the unhappiest people are those who work in jobs that require little social interaction. This is revealed by a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University. The study followed 724 volunteers from their adolescence in 1938. The participants came from different economic and social backgrounds, from the poorest neighborhoods of Boston to Harvard students. Over the years, the researchers have collected information about their health and every two years ask them questions about their lives and their mental and emotional well-being. The team also interviews their family members.

Connect with your peers to feel more fulfilled at work

According to the results, employees in professions that do not offer opportunities to bond with their peers are less happy than others. Those who work at night are also less satisfied. Among the professions that make people the unhappiest are security guards, truck drivers, and food or grocery delivery drivers.

It’s clear that human interaction and relationships contribute to employee happiness. “It’s a basic social need that must be met in all aspects of our lives. Also, if you are more in contact with people, you are more satisfied with your job and you work better,” Robert Waldinger, professor of psychiatry and author of the research, explains to CNBC, before pointing out that loneliness increases the risk of mortality.

“We know that call center workers are often very stressed by their work, especially because they are on the phone all day with frustrated and impatient people,” he added.

Is volunteering the solution to loneliness?

In their work, the team argues that the secret to being happy, living longer, and enjoying good health is to maintain positive relationships. “Personal connections create mental and emotional stimulation that automatically boosts mood, while isolation destroys it. It is also an opportunity to focus on positive relationships and get rid of negative people in life, or at least minimize interactions with them,” says Robert Waldinger.

If workers need to widen their circle, researchers advise them to volunteer. “You are likely to meet more like-minded people. Volunteering is also another way to increase happiness by giving meaning to one’s life. One study found that this benefit was greatest for people aged 45 to 80 and older,” they continued.