Colds are generally unpleasant, but a recent study from Rice University shows one group is more likely than others to report symptoms of greater severity.
Colds are generally unpleasant, but a recent study from Rice University shows one group is more likely than others to report symptoms of greater severity.
At large, participants who indicated a sense of loneliness tended to describe their condition in more grave terms than those deemed socially satisfied.
The research involved 159 individuals between the ages of 18 and 55.
After being assessed via established social contentment scales, all subjects were induced with a cold virus then quarantined for five days in hotel rooms.
Not everybody got sick, but among those who did, individuals tagged as lonely reported symptoms that were much worse than typical.
As remedy, Angie LeRoy, one of the team members, suggests people invest more in their social lives.
She commented, “If you build those networks — consistently working on them and your relationships — when you do fall ill, it may not feel so bad.”
