Jun 24, 2024 BY Eileen K. Graham and Anthony D. Ong
Loneliness is a feeling associated with a host of negative outcomes ranging from maladaptive health behaviors to mortality. Scientists generally define loneliness as a distressing emotional state that arises when a person perceives a discrepancy between their desired and actual social connections. While loneliness can fluctuate throughout a person's day, week, or year as they navigate social interactions, chronic or increasing loneliness over time is particularly concerning. And it’s not uncommon. Recent estimates highlight that as many as 1/4 of U.S. adults experience chronic loneliness, and that figure jumps to 1/3 for adults over 65.
We have been especially interested in understanding the effects of loneliness as people age. Research shows that people who report more loneliness tend to have poorer health outcomes as they age, including a higher risk of dementia and premature mortality, independent of their actual level of social connection. In other words, the subjective experience of loneliness may be more detrimental to health than objective social isolation.
Motivated by these findings, we set out to better understand the trajectories of loneliness across the adult lifespan, building on other recent work. We analyzed multiple datasets from around the world that tracked individuals over several decades, asking them to report their feelings of loneliness at various times in their lives. In total, we had responses from around 128,000 people from over 20 countries. Our aim was to determine whether loneliness varies across individuals and whether it increases with age.
We found a consistent pattern: people got less lonely as they moved from young adulthood into middle age, but they got more lonely as they moved from middle age to older adulthood. This non-linear trajectory suggests a complex interplay of factors influencing loneliness across the lifespan.
In addition to these overall patterns, we looked for potential risk factors for experiencing and developing loneliness. Loneliness is more likely among people with lower socioeconomic status (less education, lower income), fewer opportunities for social interaction (such as widowed or divorced people), and engagement in risky health behaviors like smoking. Moreover, at any age, loneliness was associated with poorer physical health including multiple chronic conditions, and functional limitations, worse mental health such as depression, and cognitive difficulties including memory problems.
These findings add to a growing body of research highlighting the prevalence and consequences of loneliness among older adults. Older adulthood may be an especially risky time for becoming lonely in part due to the waning opportunities for social contact that often occur at this time. For example, becoming an empty-nester, retiring from work, or losing a spouse are events that are experienced more among older adults and could pose risks tied to loneliness.
By identifying those at greatest risk for chronic loneliness and its potential health implications, we can inform targeted interventions and support systems. For example, healthcare providers could screen for loneliness during routine check-ups, and tailor recommendations accordingly, while community organizations could develop programs to foster social connections among older adults.
You can also play a role in combating loneliness in your communities. Reaching out to older neighbors, offering to help with errands or chores, and checking in on them regularly can make a meaningful difference in their lives. By understanding the trajectory of loneliness across the lifespan and its critical implications for health and well-being, communities can work together to create a more connected and supportive society for people of all ages.
For Further Reading
Graham, E. K., Beck, E. D., Jackson, K., Yoneda, T., McGhee, C., Pieramici, L., ... & Ong, A. D. (2024). Do We Become More Lonely With Age? A Coordinated Data Analysis of Nine Longitudinal Studies.Psychological Science, https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976241242037.
Hawkley, L. C., Buecker, S., Kaiser, T., & Luhmann, M. (2022). Loneliness from young adulthood to old age: Explaining age differences in loneliness.International Journal of Behavioral Development,46(1), 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025420971048
Holt-Lunstad, J. (2021). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors: The power of social connection in prevention.American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine,15(5), 567-573.
Mund, M., Freuding, M. M., Möbius, K., Horn, N., & Neyer, F. J. (2020). The stability and change of loneliness across the life span: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 24(1), 24-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868319850738
Eileen K. Graham is an Associate Professor of Medical Social Sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Anthony Ong is a Professor of Psychology at Cornell University and the Director of the Cornell Center for Integrative Developmental Science.
