Emotional isolation

Emotional isolation is a state of isolation where one may have a well-functioning social network but still feels emotionally separated from others.

Population-based research indicates that one in five middle-aged and elderly men (50–80 years) in Sweden are emotionally isolated (defined as having no one in whom to confide). Of those who do have someone in whom they can confide, eight out of ten confide only in their partner. People who have no one in whom to confide are less likely to feel alert and strong, calm, energetic and happy. Instead, they are more likely to feel depressed, sad, tired and worn out. Many people suffering from this kind of isolation have strong social networks, but lack a significant bond with their friends. While they can build superficial friendships, they are often not able to confide in many people. People who are isolated emotionally usually feel lonely and unable to relate to others.

Emotional maltreatment/abuse of children and adolescents has been in existence since antiquity up till this 21st century (Beswick, 2009; Mause, 1974). It has garnered considerable public debate and still remains researchers’ area of focus. The identification, assessment, and treatment of emotional maltreatment are of ever-increasing importance to counsellors, psychologists, health professionals and even parents. Empirical information has shown that emotional abuse, especially among children, exists in developed and developing countries. In America, the rate of emotional abuse was estimated to be 103 per 1000 among 2–17 year olds (Finkelhor et al., 2005). A 2 year study of United States army cases of emotional maltreatment by Jellen et al. (2001) revealed that primary emotional abuse was found in 26% of cases while emotional abuse plus physical abuse or child neglect was discovered in 14% cases.

Studies on identification of emotional abuse have shown that it is multidimensional in nature. Warner and Hansen (1994) assert that identification and reporting of maltreatment are two critical steps in improving the health status of maltreated children. Garbarino et al. (1986) in Iwaniec (1997) and Tomison and Tucci (1997) proposed five categories of emotional abuse to include rejecting (behaviours which constitute abandonment of the child); isolating (behaviour which prevents the child from participating in social activities); terrorising (behaviour which threatens the child with severe punishment); ignoring (behaviour which makes the caregiver to be psychologically unavailable to the child); and corrupting (behaviour which encourages the child to develop antisocial behavioural patterns).

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