Many people know that loneliness is not good for mental health, but you may not know that loneliness can also cause great harm to physical health. Studies have found that loneliness increases the cancer risk of middle-aged men by 10%, which is equivalent to smoking and obesity.

很多人都知道，孤独不利于心理健康，但你可能不知道，孤独对身体健康也会造成很大危害。研究发现，孤独会将中年男人的患癌风险增加10%，危害力相当于吸烟和肥胖。



Lonely and single middle-aged1 men are at an increased risk of developing cancer than those in a relationship and with people around them, according to a new study.

新研究发现，孤独的单身中年男人比有伴的中年男人患癌风险更高。


A team from the University of Eastern Finland worked with 2,570 middle-aged men, monitoring their health and mortality from the 1980s to the present day.

东芬兰大学的研究团队调查了2570名中年男性，从20世纪80年代开始就一直监测他们的健康状况和死亡率。


Over the course of the study 25% of participants had developed cancer, with 11% of the Finnish men involved dying from the condition.

在研究期间，25%的参与者患上了癌症，其中有11%的芬兰男性死于癌症。


There was a 'clear link' between loneliness and an increased risk of cancer, the team explained, with being lonely increasing the risk of cancer by about ten percent.

研究团队解释道，孤独和患癌风险增加之间有“明显关联”，孤独可导致患癌风险增加约10%。



Globally, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Loneliness has been suggested as a risk factor for cancer mortality. However, connections between loneliness, social isolation2, and cancer are poorly understood.

从全球来看，癌症是人类的第二大死因。目前已经发现，孤独是导致患癌死亡的一个风险因素，但是人们对孤独、社交隔绝和癌症三者之间的联系知之甚少。


Recent studies have suggested that loneliness could be as significant a health risk as smoking or being overweight, according to the researchers.

近期的研究显示，孤独对健康的危害可能和吸烟、肥胖一样大。


'Our findings support the idea that attention should be paid to this issue,' said project Researcher Siiri-Liisi Kraav from the University of Eastern Finland.

东芬兰大学的项目研究员西瑞-里西·卡拉夫说道：“我们的发现证实，这一问题应该得到重视。”



In addition, cancer mortality was higher in cancer patients who were unmarried, widowed or divorced at baseline.

此外，未婚、丧偶或中年离婚的癌症患者死亡率更高。


'Awareness3 of the health effects of loneliness is constantly increasing. Therefore, it is important to examine, in more detail, the mechanisms4 by which loneliness causes adverse5 health effects,' the authors wrote.

作者写道：“孤独对健康的影响越来越受到重视。因此，有必要更详细地研究孤独导致负面健康影响的机制。”


'This information would enable us to better alleviate6 loneliness and the harm caused by it, as well as to find optimal7 ways to target preventive measures.'

“这一信息将让我们能够更好地缓解孤独和由此造成的危害，也有助于找到最理想的预防措施。”


The findings were published in Psychiatry8 Research.

该研究结果被发表在《精神病学研究》上。



1 middle-aged adj.中年的

【参考例句】

I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。

The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。


2 isolation n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

【参考例句】

The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。

He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。


3 awareness n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

【参考例句】

There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。

Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。


4 mechanisms n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

【参考例句】

The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。来自《简明英汉词典》

He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。来自《简明英汉词典》


5 adverse adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

【参考例句】

He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。

The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。


6 alleviate v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

【参考例句】

The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。

Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。


7 optimal adj.最适宜的；最理想的；最令人满意的

【参考例句】

What is the optimal mix of private and public property rights in natural resources?私人和国家的自然资源产权的最适宜的组合是什么？

Optimal path planning is a key link for the sailing contest.帆船最优行驶路径规划是帆船比赛取胜的关键环节。


8 psychiatry n.精神病学，精神病疗法

【参考例句】

The study appeared in the Amercian science Journal of Psychiatry.这个研究发表在美国精神病学的杂志上。

A physician is someone who specializes in psychiatry.精神病专家是专门从事精神病治疗的人。