It’s no surprise, then, that recent research has shown that loneliness is a growing public health menace in the US, especially for middle-aged adults. A wide-ranging study of more than 64,000 people over the age of 50 in 29 countries has shown a shocking reality—loneliness kills. It’s a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, and even death at an earlier age. The U.S. Surgeon General just said to cut it out. He points out that the health risks of loneliness are on par with that of smoking as much as 15 cigarettes a day.
This study shows that in the U.S., loneliness peaks in middle age. This reversal is in contrast to other nations such as the Netherlands, where loneliness tends to be highest among the elderly. Perhaps most strikingly, the study found that unemployment was one of the biggest causes of this sense of disconnection in middle-aged people. Dr. Robin A. Richardson, a leading researcher on the topic, stated, “We see that actually middle-aged adults are at pretty high risk of loneliness, and this has historically been a group that has been neglected.“
Loneliness has huge implications for more than just emotional state. It’s a grave public health threat. The study identified that approximately 20% of the variations in loneliness experienced by participants could not be attributed solely to age. This serves to emphasize the need for intervention with other underlining factors that are leading to increased loneliness in this demographic.
In these ways and more, loneliness in the U.S. is far from a purely social epidemic. Rather, it is deeply connected to physical health outcomes. People who suffer from chronic loneliness are at higher risk for major health issues including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature death. The Surgeon General’s advisory is an urgent call to action. It is time for communities and healthcare providers to recognize loneliness as a critical health concern.
Dr. Richardson issued a call to action for people to take everyday steps to help combat loneliness. She remarked, “Just a quick text or a quick phone call and nurturing these relationships and making sure that we feel connected can go a long way.” She added, “As much as we can, it’s good to reach out and to feel connected, and I think those connections don’t need to be major things, right?”
