A state in which the individual lacks a sense of relatedness connected to positive, lasting, and significant interpersonal relationships

Altered physical appearance

Expresses dissatisfaction with respect from others

Expresses dissatisfaction with social connection

Expresses dissatisfaction with social support

Expresses loneliness

Flat affect

Hostility

Impaired ability to meet expectations of others

Low levels of social activities

Minimal interaction with others

Preoccupation with own thoughts

Purposelessness

Reduced eye contact

Reports feeling different from others

Reports feeling insecure in public

Sad affect

Seclusion imposed by others

Sense of alienation

Social behavior incongruent with cultural norms

Social withdrawal

Cognitive dysfunction

Difficulty establishing satisfactory reciprocal interpersonal relations

Difficulty performing activities of daily living

Difficulty sharing personal life expectations

Fear of crime

Fear of traffic

Impaired Physical Mobility

Inadequate psychosocial support system

Inadequate social skills

Inadequate social support

Inadequate transportation

Low self-esteem

Negative perception of support system

Neurobehavioral manifestations

Values incongruent with cultural norms

Economically disadvantaged individuals

Immigrants

Individuals experiencing altered social role

Individuals experiencing loss of significant other

Individuals living alone

Individuals living far from significant others

Individuals moving to unfamiliar locations

Individuals with history of rejection

Individuals with history of traumatic event

Individuals with ill family member

Individuals with no children

Institutionalized individuals

Older adults

Widowed individuals

Chronic disease

Cognitive disorders

AUTHOR'S NOTE

In 1994, NANDA-I added a new diagnosis: Risk for Loneliness. It more accurately adheres to the NANDA definition of "response to." In addition, an individual can experience loneliness even with many people around. In reviewing the defining characteristics and related factors listed above, some are repeated in both categories. This author recommends deleting Social Isolation from clinical use and using Loneliness or Risk for Loneliness instead. An individual with difficulty communicating one on one or in a group may avoid social interactions or experience negative responses from others. Impaired Social Interaction can be used to describe this person.