Links between Loneliness and Wellness

 

Currently, there are over 18 million cancer survivors in the United States, with this number expected to rise to 22 million by 2030 due to advancements in early detection and effective treatments. Given this growing population, Luminaries, a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer survivorship, seeks to address and mitigate long-term impacts such as physical health issues, cognitive challenges, and emotional difficulties, including anxiety and depression. These effects can adversely affect social relationships, contributing to feelings of loneliness. Research indicates that individuals experiencing social isolation have a higher risk of cancer-related mortality. Although related, loneliness and social isolation are distinct; loneliness is a subjective feeling, and socially active individuals may still experience it. Recognizing that anyone can face emotional challenges, including loneliness, following a cancer diagnosis, Luminaries’ mission is to understand and improve the well-being of all cancer survivors. Post-diagnosis well-being is a complex, multifaceted concept encompassing various aspects of health, such as stress management, exercise, and mind-body practices.​

 

How does Luminaries Define and Measure Well-Being?

 

​Luminaries employs a bottoms-up and participatory approach to define and measure well-being. Qualitative surveys are used to gather insights on well-being and lifestyle from individuals with different cancer diagnoses. To evaluate and quantify well-being, Luminaries developed a survey tool administered before and after their program. This before and after questionnaire includes 74 questions spanning six practices of wellbeing and is grounded in self-reported measures. To date, more than 2,200 cancer survivors worldwide have participated in the survey.​

 

The questionnaire sets a baseline for survivors across the following domains of well-being:​

 

• Social Connectedness: The quality and quantity of connections with others, such as family, friends, colleagues, and community members.

• Purpose & Meaning: The extent and nature of one’s connection and alignment with a purpose or value system.

• Sense of Self: Also known as self-concept, it refers to a person's perception of their unique identity and the characteristics defining them, including values, personality, relationships, and beliefs.

• Lifestyle and Daily Practices: The impact of daily routines and habits on health and wellbeing.

• Stress & Resilience: The level and expression of freedom and control over life decisions and actions, encompassing choices, preferences, rights, and responsibilities.

• Physical Health: The state and functioning of the body.

• Mental & Emotional Health: The state and functioning of the mind, including positive emotions, satisfaction, resilience, and the absence of negative emotions, stress, and psychological disorders.

 

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​Loneliness, a subjective feeling of isolation, is particularly concerning for cancer survivors due to the long-term adverse health impacts of treatments on overall well-being. The Luminaries’ survivorship survey aims to create a wellness baseline for survivors to help them understand their levels of social connectedness and overall wellbeing. Before joining the yearlong Luminaries survivorship program, participants are asked about their sense of belonging, support network, and practical help, such as if they felt there were people they could rely on in survivorship and how comfortable they felt integrating into a group of friends as a survivor. Participants specifically address feelings of isolation with response options: “never,” “rarely,” “sometimes,” “usually,” or “always.” The loneliness data was paired with a cohort who had seen their primary care physician or oncologist within the past three months.​

 

Survey results indicated that loneliness correlates with poorer outcomes across all wellness practices, including an increased risk of negative emotions (stress), reduced physical activity, and diminished sense of purpose. For example, cancer survivors might feel unsupported by their families and friends regarding cancer-related concerns or have unrealistic expectations of emotional support from others, exacerbating negative emotions. Lonelier cancer survivors may not receive the practical and emotional support needed for their symptoms, leading to greater health burdens such as fatigue, pain, and poor sleep quality, even years after diagnosis.​

 

Call for Action

 

These findings have significant clinical implications. They suggest that routine screening for loneliness/social connectedness should be integrated into survivorship care. Monitoring by primary care and cancer clinicians for loneliness could reduce the potential negative impact on health outcomes. Healthcare providers are encouraged to include loneliness assessment tools in their standard practices, applying them at multiple stages from initial diagnosis through survivorship care, as loneliness may vary throughout the cancer journey. Early detection of loneliness is essential to prevent its escalation and associated complications among cancer survivors in the main pillars of well-being.

 

Additionally, identifying survivors experiencing loneliness can guide necessary interventions, such as mental health counseling, community support, or lifestyle modifications like those offered by Luminaries. Healthcare coordinators or oncology nurse navigators can assist in facilitating communication and coordinating care to ensure timely surveillance and intervention.​

 

Equipping practitioners with Luminaries solutions helps them assess and tailor interventions necessary to support the growing number of cancer survivors. Luminaries serves as a comprehensive solution for analyzing self-reported data to enhance wellness coordination and collaboration among cancer care providers. By providing a wide range of tools and resources, Luminaries enables healthcare professionals to address the diverse needs of survivors, promoting a holistic approach to cancer care.

 

If you would like to help us continue this mission, please consider a donation or each out to dreambig@luminaires.life to learn more or assist in our efforts to reach oncology practices across the country.