In today’s modern world, individualism has come to the fore. Individuals have started to give more importance to meeting their own needs without any support from anyone. Although this situation brings many advantages, it also has some negative effects. Neglecting social needs and becoming isolated are some of these effects.
In addition, there are many negative consequences of loneliness. In today’s article, we will examine loneliness and social relationships and focus on these concepts. We will talk about the importance of individuals receiving social support from their environment and the positive effects of social support.
Loneliness and Its Effects
Loneliness is a mood usually known as the lack of social networks where an individual can get support. In this state, the person thinks that there is no one around them, that they do not have any social circle. They may perceive themselves as isolated from other people.
A person can get rid of this loneliness when they find a social environment consisting of people who have common goals and are similar to them (Yurcu & Kocakula, 2015). The feeling of loneliness has become more prominent in modern life. Individualization and the increasingly complex human relationships are important factors that increase loneliness (Yurcu & Kocakula, 2015).
When a person who feels alone needs support, they think that there is no one to help them. At the same time, they feel that they have no one to communicate with and that they cannot trust anyone. In this case, the person may have difficulties in adapting because they do not trust the environment. They may feel they have no place in society (Yurcu & Kocakula, 2015).
Loneliness can be a major factor in creating and triggering many psychological disorders. It can negatively affect a person’s well-being, cause negative emotions to arise, and reduce the pleasure they get from life. It also leads to a decrease in self-esteem, causing more negative thoughts about oneself and feelings of worthlessness (Yalcin, 2015).
Loneliness negatively affects not only psychological health but also physical health. It may complicate the treatment of physical diseases and increase the mortality rate in old age (Yalçın, 2015).
Social Support and Its Importance
Social support can be briefly defined as the whole of the people from whom a person receives support. Social support includes helping a person in a difficult situation, providing information, emotional comfort, and psychological support. It involves maintaining quality communication and social ties.
While a person receives social support mostly from their family in the first years of life, they can receive it from many people, such as friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc., in the following years (Iraz, Aribaş, & Özşahin, 2021).
Although social support is often measured by the number of people a person receives support from, the quality of the support is also important. Another definition of social support is knowing that a person can reach someone when they need it. Knowing they can access social support can help a person feel more secure (Iraz, Aribaş, & Özşahin, 2021).
Benefits of Social Support:
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Contributes to the well-being of individuals and enhances positive feelings.
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Helps maintain psychological health.
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May play a role in maintaining physical health.
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Can prevent the development of depression.
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Helps reduce stress levels.
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Assists in coping with anxiety.
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Can increase self-esteem.
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Supports positive progress in the treatment process of diseases (Türkmen, 2012).
In addition to receiving social support, providing social support also has positive effects on well-being. A person can feel good when giving support to others (Türkmen, 2012).
It may be useful for a person to seek professional help when they understand that the social support they receive is insufficient to protect them from the negative mood caused by loneliness. Improving or changing their social support network may also help reduce difficulties (Iraz, Aribaş, & Özşahin, 2021).
Conclusion
Individualization and modern life have isolated individuals and caused them to ignore the importance of social relationships. As a result, people are deprived of the benefits of social support and are exposed to the negative effects of loneliness. Building and maintaining social relationships is crucial for psychological and physical well-being in today’s world.
References
Iraz, R., Arıbaş, A. N., & Özşahin, F. (2021). The Relationship Between Perceived Social Support And Psychological Well-Being: A Sample Of University Students. Journal of Strategic and Social Research, 5(2), 363-376.
Türkmen, M. (2012). The structure of subjective well-being and parental attitudes, self-esteem and its relationship to social support: A model test. Uşak University Journal of Social Sciences, 5(1), 41-73.
Yalcin, I. (2015). The relationship between deceleration and social support: A meta-analysis of studies conducted in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 26(1), 21-32.
Yurcu, G., & Crone, D. (2015). The effect of employee loneliness on subjective well-being in accommodation establishments.