Loneliness is common among young people with eating disorders. Eating disorders are often characterised by social isolation, straining relationships with friends and family members.
At the same time, loneliness can contribute to and maintain disordered eating behaviours. Without the positive, extroverted energy of social relationships, young people can become increasingly inward-focused and dominated by body shape, weight, and food. Sometimes, eating disorders can be a way to numb feelings of loneliness or distract from the pain of isolation.
That’s why building meaningful social connections with friends and family members is such an important part of the recovery process. With effective support, young people and families can develop the intra- and interpersonal skills they need to form close and caring relationships that overcome experiences of loneliness.
What Is Loneliness?
Loneliness is an experience that is different for everyone. It can be hard to pinpoint exactly what loneliness feels like. Some people describe loneliness as a feeling of being emotionally alone or a lack of meaningful connection with others.
Some young people may feel lonely when they lack social contact or social relationships. But others may experience loneliness even when they are around other people because they don’t feel emotionally connected to them or feel misunderstood.
Loneliness is a kind of emotional pain that tries to protect us from the dangers of being socially isolated. Humans usually require meaningful social connections to stay well, physically and mentally. Just as physical pain signals to us that our bodies are at risk of harm, loneliness may be a sign that we lack the vital relationships we require and depend upon.
How Does Loneliness Affect Mental Health?
Loneliness isn’t a mental health condition. But feeling lonely can affect a young person’s mental health. Loneliness is linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties sleeping.
Social support is crucial to maintaining mental health. Trusted relationships provide invaluable care at times of stress or adversity. Close relationships can protect against the impact of trauma and encourage healthier coping mechanisms.
On the other hand, social isolation can make young people more vulnerable to psychological distress, increasing the risk of developing mental health problems like eating disorders.
How Can Loneliness Contribute to the Development of Eating Disorders?
Interpersonal relationships play a key role in the development of eating disorders. Young people with eating disorders often experience a degree of social isolation or a small social network before they develop the illness. For example, anorexia is linked to less socialisation in childhood, as well as feelings of loneliness, inferiority, and social anxiety.
Social isolation and loneliness may cause young people to become more inward-focused and preoccupied with their body shape and weight. Meaningful social relationships are important in creating a sense of perspective and self-worth. Relationships help young people understand the many ways they are valuable and emphasise their hobbies and passions. Without these relationships, it’s easier for disordered eating attitudes and behaviours to dominate a young person’s life.
Disordered eating behaviours can also be a way to numb or distract from feelings of loneliness. Some young people may eat a lot to avoid emotions, while others may restrict their energy intake. As daily life starts to revolve around eating routines, there may be less room for feelings of loneliness to surface.
Research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic found that college students who experienced more loneliness were at a greater risk of eating disorder symptoms.
How Do Eating Disorders Lead to Loneliness?
Although many young people experience social withdrawal or loneliness before they develop an eating disorder, feelings of loneliness often get worse along with their illness. Young people with eating disorders often lack the energy to socialise and feel exhausted and fatigued. They may feel anxious going to events or outings that involve food and avoid eating with other people. This can cause them to miss out on social time.
Sometimes, close friends and family members can also become more hostile and distant when a young person develops an eating disorder. While these reactions are normal, they are also harmful and can exacerbate a vicious cycle of increasing isolation and worsening symptoms. That’s why it’s so important for family members (and sometimes friends) of young people with eating disorders to receive professional advice and support.
Among people with eating disorders, loneliness is associated with more severe symptoms, greater weight concerns, and more marked stress reactions. A study conducted during the pandemic found that individuals who felt closer to their families (experiencing a sense of belonging) experienced less loneliness and fewer disordered eating symptoms than those who felt less connected.
Loneliness, Eating Disorders, and Childhood Trauma
It’s well established that young people who have experienced childhood trauma are at a greater risk of developing eating disorders. But recent research has also found that loneliness partly mediates the relationship. This means that individuals who have experienced loneliness as well as childhood are more likely to have eating disorder symptoms than those who do not feel lonely.
Loneliness may be an important element in the pathway from childhood trauma to eating disorders. Childhood trauma often results in more insecure attachments to other people, making it more difficult to trust others or to form stable, lasting relationships. The consequent lack of meaningful social connections – experienced as loneliness – makes it more likely for a young person to develop an eating disorder.
What Treatment Approaches and Interventions Can Help to Prevent and Overcome Loneliness in Young People with Eating Disorders?
Among people with eating disorders, loneliness is linked to more severe symptoms. This means that addressing experiences of loneliness during the treatment process may be an important step towards long-term recovery.
Treatment approaches that address loneliness may focus on building meaningful social connections by overcoming social anxiety, developing interpersonal skills, and changing a young person’s perception of themselves and others. Treatment modalities might include:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy, a treatment approach that involves identifying harmful thinking and behavioural patterns and replacing them with more positive ones
- Interpersonal therapy, which emphasises developing interpersonal skills like open communication and boundary-setting
- Cognitive Remediation and Emotional Skills Training (CREST), a skills-based therapy that supports people to recognise and express emotions
- Family therapies, a range of treatment approaches that help families develop a supportive, caring family system that nurtures recovery
The Wave Clinic: Specialist Recovery Programs for Young People
The Wave Clinic offers residential and outpatient treatment spaces in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Our transformative programs emphasise building self-confidence and developing life skills, making a difference in the lives of young people.
We’re experts in the treatment of eating disorders, border personality disorder, complex trauma, and other mental health concerns. We address the way a young person’s past, social context, and important relationships shape their mental health and their recovery, laying the foundations for lasting change.
If you’re interested in finding out more about our programs, get in touch today.
