Social withdrawal
Social withdrawal refers to the consistent (across situations and over time) display of solitary behavior when encountering familiar and/or unfamiliar people. In other words, social withdrawal is defined as isolation from a group of people. The reason for social isolation may be that some people refrain from communicating because they are wary and anxious. This is characterized by the fear of saying or doing something in public because of possible humiliation and embarrassment.
The consequences of social withdrawal:
- A significantly increased risk of premature mortality from all causes.
- Social isolation is associated with the development of serious heart disease.
- Social withdrawal in turn contributes to a further worsening of the disorder symptomatology as well as to further deficits in social cognition through social stimuli deprivation in a vicious circle.
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National Academies of Sciences. (2020). Social Isolation and Loneliness in older adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. Washington : National Academies Press. Retrieved from: https://shorturl.at/wttPt .