Answer: Smoking
Clues: “Habit” and “Inhale”
According to new research, smoking actually leads to increased loneliness.
Previous studies have suggested that loneliness led to an uptake of smoking, but this new research analyzed data from over 50,000 people and measured how lonely smokers and non-smokers felt over time.
Current smokers were found to be lonelier than non-smokers, no matter the age or gender, and smokers also experienced larger increases in loneliness over time.
There’s no clear explanation as to why. But experts say smoking may damage psychosocial health and smoking bans and restrictions also limit smokers’ ability to participate in social activities.
(New York Post / ERS)