Loneliness is Contagious

Tuesday, 01 December 2009 | by Pat's Picks

Loneliness, it turns out, is contagious. A new study has found that feelings of isolation can pass through social groups, just like the flu. The Chicago Tribune says women are more likely to pick up on the loneliness of friends than men. Researchers concluded from the study’s results that loneliness is a “biological signal like hunger or thirst” and “tells people they’re not sufficiently connected and that they need to re-establish human bonds.”