People Who Live Solo More Likely To Be Depressed

April 11th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Most single people relish not having to share their home space with anyone else, but a new seven-year study found people who live alone are about 80 percent more likely to be depressed than people who don’t.

Among the nearly 3,500 men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who were studied by the Institute of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Helsinki, those who lived alone were more likely to be depressed and on medication. Looking at database information, one quarter of those who lived solo filled a prescription for antidepressants, compared to just 16 percent of those who didn’t.

Obviously, no cause and effect relationship could be established since the people studied could have just as easily decided to live alone because they are depressed as opposed to becoming depressed because they live alone. Plus plenty of men and women who live alone have active social lives and aren’t affected by coming home to an empty house. If there’s a sudden change in someone’s behavior that causes them to want to live or be alone all the time, then there may be cause for concern.

“Being depressed certainly can cause you to not only feel, but [also] become, more isolated,” said John Newcomer, MD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, who commented on the study to MSN Living. “You feel hopeless that you’re ever going to be able to have relationships, but even at another level, you…just don’t feel like getting up and going out. You’re undermotivated to do the various steps that are necessary to achieve social engagement.”

If you’re not feeling any of those things, chances are you’re just fine living single.

Do you think it’s good to live alone?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • Poetsgroove

    Ok, after having room mates in my 20′s and a live in boyfriend for 2 years, it feels good to come home and knowing that no one didnt eat my Greek yogurt up! Please get off this mess!!!

  • L-Boogie

    Get a pet.

  • Msddre

    …i love my solo life…it ain’t always about having someone live with you all the time…

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  • Didshereallygothere

    Well I guess I done phucked up y’all. Been working since old enough to, but foolishly squandered my youth and independence on one of the worst ‘baby daddies’ since Bin Laden. not that I don’t love the child that came from it, but I mourn…to this day…..the fact that I can’t even cite [12] months being over the age of 18 that I’ve HAD to enjoy New Testament-Approved Solitude. As an artist…….I think THAT depresses me more than the idea of a companion sniffing expectantly about the kitchen come meal-time and/or nudging me with an air of entitlement come bedtime when I Really AM ‘too tired’. I bet I’d get booed off the stage to confess that I am counting down to having me an empty nest (12 years, 6 months).  Companionship I far from lack—but what type of mom lets just any ol fella around the kids nowadays? I can’t wait to ‘live alone’ again. I’m my own best company. Could be the artist that I am.

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  • Shannew

    I hate living alone. It’s so quiet. I turn up the music for background noise but I prefer living with someone. 

  • Kenedy

    I would cherish living alone…..ofcourse my friends & family would be seeing me alot often if i did so.

  • Ms. Spring

    Sometimes people feel alone when around others, and I can understand why they like being alone. In reality, people can be real annoying.  That’s why it’s good to hang with people who they feel comfortable with.  

  • Guest

    “Loneliness is not the absence of affection but the absence of direction.”- Mike Murdock Who said you couldn’t just invite someone over? It’s called company, duh.

    • Kaye

       ..exactly and kick them out when you are ready

      • Yeah….OK

        Right…. I am a girl and I don’t want no other woman living up under me day and night! Even yo man need to go home when he get annoying!! Lol

  • Budelux

    Great article. Simply put an idol mind is the devil’s workshop. When you have no body to interact with your immediate environment becomes hostile then negativity kicks.

    • Yeah….OK

      What…. So u wanna do devilish sh1t just cause u alone???? What kinda… Umm I know right from wrong whether I’m alone or in a crowd… Are u an ADULT??

  • Chanda

    I’m in my 30s and have been living alone for years! What am I suppose to do, get a rommate?

  • Yeah….OK

    Why would a GROWN person not want to live alone if they are not married or in a serious relationship… Ummm there is some time between gettin out of college and getting married for SOME of us where u should be finding a career and yourself… Unless its monetarily not possible, every grown adult should want something of their own if they not in the market of finding a man/woman right away after school… You still wanna be living like a college student when u 28-30 dating….chile please!!! Who does the thinking here cus this topic is so…….. O_o but I’m one of those people who doesn’t like living with others so maybe it’s just me.

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