Summary

Social isolation is both a social and public health problem that is lethal across the life span. Its harmful effects have both psychological and physiological impact and is recognized by social workers and allied health professionals as a major barrier to quality of life for individuals and groups. The effects of social isolation have been reported to be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and four times as harmful as obesity. These facts have galvanized the social work profession around eradicating social isolation with a focus on defining social isolation and identifying its causes, strategies for eradication and prevention, and addressing the differences between perceived isolation (loneliness) and objective isolation. Additionally, social isolation is examined through a cultural lens using both micro- and macroperspectives giving attention to social exclusion as well as to groups who have higher risks such as older persons, at-risk youth, prisoners, stigmatized groups, and historically oppressed populations.