Can loneliness be good for health?

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A new study found that people feel better face to face, in the event that it is perceived loneliness. But if they are together with someone against their will, then it is much worse for them.

All of us have heard more than once that loneliness is harmful to health. However, scientists from Bar-Ilan University in Israel proved that this is not always the case. It turns out that it's all about our choice. Yes, if we are forced to be in the company of some people against our will, it is much worse than if we are alone by our own choice. In the first case, mental well-being worsens, while in the second it can improve.

New research suggests that our sense of choice determines our own emotions and feelings of loneliness. Choice in this regard means much more than coercion, especially with regard to communication with undesirable people, since it is perceived more painfully. This conclusion was made during two experiments that allow manipulating the social environment and the same choice.

155 students took part in the experiments. Each participant was given the opportunity to change his social status, that is, to be alone or with some other people, both by his own choice and by coercion. Young people shared their feelings, reported positive or negative emotions, level of satisfaction, sense of control over themselves and fullness of meaning in life. In total, more than 4,200 different episodes were analyzed.