Loneliness Peaks: Youth and Old Age

New study reveals U-shaped pattern of loneliness across the lifespan

Loneliness isn’t just a feeling confined to the twilight years; it has a U-shaped pattern, a new Northwestern Medicine study found. The research, examining nine longitudinal studies from around the world, identified higher levels of loneliness in younger and older adults, with the lowest during middle adulthood.

The study also pinpointed several risk factors for heightened loneliness across all age groups, including social isolation, lower education, and physical impairments.

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“What was striking was how consistent the uptick in loneliness is in older adulthood,” said Eileen Graham, associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

This pattern of loneliness isn’t just a local phenomenon; it’s global. The study analyzed datasets from the U.K., Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia, Israel, and more. These findings underscore the widespread nature of the loneliness epidemic and its impact on global health.

Loneliness isn’t just a feeling; it’s a significant health risk comparable to smoking. Graham stressed the need for interventions to address loneliness, particularly among older adults.

“Lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily,” Graham said. “We need targeted interventions to reduce social disparities and hopefully reduce levels of loneliness.”

The study identified individuals with higher persistent loneliness, who were disproportionately women, more isolated, less educated, had lower income, had more functional limitations, were divorced or widowed, were smokers, or had poorer cognitive, physical, or mental health.

The study’s findings highlight the importance of social interactions in mitigating loneliness and the need for interventions to address loneliness across all age groups