Loneliness Reaches Its Height in Both Youth and Old Age

The research also pinpointed various factors that elevate loneliness throughout life, such as social isolation, gender, educational level, and physical limitations.

"The significant rise in loneliness during older adulthood stood out remarkably," stated Eileen Graham, corresponding author and associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Given the abundant evidence linking loneliness to deteriorating health, our aim was to delve deeper into the demographics of loneliness and uncover the reasons behind the increasing loneliness among individuals transitioning out of midlife. Our hope is to identify strategies to alleviate this trend."

Lacking connection can elevate the risk of premature death to levels akin to daily smoking, as highlighted by the office of the U.S. Surgeon General, which called for action to address America's loneliness epidemic one year ago.

Graham emphasized that her findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions aimed at reducing social disparities throughout adulthood to potentially alleviate levels of loneliness, particularly among older adults.

She further envisioned a future where general practitioners might assess levels of loneliness during routine wellness visits to help identify those most vulnerable.

The study is slated for publication on April 30 in the journal Psychological Science.

Factors Associated with Higher Persistent Loneliness:

The research revealed that individuals experiencing higher persistent loneliness were disproportionately women, more socially isolated, less educated, with lower income, more functionally limited, divorced or widowed, smokers, or facing poorer cognitive, physical, or mental health.

'How Does Loneliness Change Across the Lifespan?'

The study replicated this U-shaped loneliness trajectory across nine datasets from studies conducted in various countries, including the U.K., Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia, Israel, and more. Only one dataset was from the U.S., highlighting the global extent of the loneliness epidemic.

"Our study stands out because it leveraged the collective power of these datasets to address the same fundamental question: 'How does loneliness evolve throughout life, and what factors contribute to its fluctuations over time?'" Graham noted.

All nine longitudinal studies were conducted prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which many researchers observed a heightened sense of loneliness.

Why is Middle Adulthood Less Lonely?

While this study did not specifically delve into why middle-aged adults tend to experience less loneliness, Graham suggested it could be attributed to the myriad social interactions that typically characterize this stage of life, such as marriage, work commitments, and forming friendships through children's social circles.

However, the relationship between social interaction and loneliness is intricate. "One can have extensive social interactions and still feel lonely, or conversely, be relatively isolated and not experience loneliness," Graham explained.

Regarding the increased loneliness during younger adulthood, Graham and co-author Tomiko Yoneda noted that the study data commence at the end of adolescence, a period when young adults grapple with significant life transitions such as education, career choices, forming new friend circles, and establishing relationships and families.

"As individuals progress from young adulthood to midlife, they tend to settle down and establish themselves, forming adult friendships, expanding social networks, and building lasting relationships," explained Yoneda, assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis.

"We have evidence suggesting that married individuals tend to experience lower levels of loneliness. Therefore, for older adults who are not married, cultivating sustained meaningful social connections is likely to reduce the risk of persistent loneliness."

Do We Become More Lonely With Age? A Coordinated Data Analysis of Nine Longitudinal Studies.

Loneliness is a pervasive experience with adverse impacts on health and well-being. Despite its significance, notable gaps impede a full understanding of how loneliness changes across the adult life span and what factors influence these changes.

To address this, we conducted a coordinated data analysis of nine longitudinal studies encompassing 128,118 participants ages 13 to 103 from over 20 countries.

Using harmonized variables and models, we examined loneliness trajectories and predictors. Analyses revealed that loneliness follows a U-shaped curve, decreasing from young adulthood to midlife and increasing in older adulthood.

Consistency prevailed across the studies, with these patterns remaining steadfast. While various baseline factors like sex, marital status, physical function, and education correlated with loneliness levels, only a few moderated the trajectories of loneliness.

These insights underscore the dynamic nature of loneliness and emphasize the necessity for tailored interventions aimed at diminishing social disparities throughout adulthood.