Ostracism is bad for your mood, but it is also bad for your health and longevity. Compared to people who were not excluded, those who felt isolated are:
less likely to engage in healthy behaviors such as regular exercise.
more likely to eat unhealthy snack foods and to select large portion sizes.
less likely to participate in “wellness visits” to a doctor, and to follow the doctor’s lifestyle advice.
Perhaps as a result of these behaviors, or the persistent impact of high levels of stress and anxiety, people who are chronically excluded show higher levels of short-term illnesses (such as colds and flu symptoms) as well as more serious diseases (such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and various types of cancer).
Not surprisingly, socially isolated individuals die at earlier ages, often a decade sooner than typical life expectancy. This holds true for both genders and in all the cultures that have been studied. Even among those individuals who have reached late adulthood, those who have a strong social support network are more likely to survive and thrive, while those who are isolated show accelerated physical and cognitive aging and an earlier death.
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