Northwestern Medicine’s Study on Loneliness
Northwestern Medicine’s recent research has shed light on an intriguing pattern of loneliness in adults, which shows a distinctive U-shaped curve, being more prevalent during young and senior phases of adulthood with a notable dip during the intervening years. This finding spans across a series of nine longitudinal studies worldwide, as reported by associate professor Eileen Graham, the study’s principal investigator from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “The rise in loneliness among the older population was particularly striking,” Graham noted.
The Gravity of Loneliness as a Health Issue
The gravity of loneliness as a significant health issue can be likened to the hazards posed by habitual smoking, highlighted by the U.S. Surgeon General. The implications of the study led Graham to stress on the necessity for specific strategies to address loneliness, especially in the elderly population. “With a strong link between loneliness and health detriments, we aimed to pinpoint who is most affected by loneliness and ascertain the factors contributing to increased feelings of loneliness,” Graham further explained, advocating for primary care providers to integrate loneliness assessments within regular health screenings.
Contributors to Prolonged Feelings of Loneliness
The study, which appeared in the journal Psychological Science, took into account data compiled before the emergence of COVID-19. It identified several contributors to prolonged feelings of loneliness: being female, social isolation, a lesser degree of education, lower income levels, health-related functional impairments, and being divorced or widowed, or facing challenges related to smoking or cognitive, physical, or mental health.
Loneliness During Midlife and Senior Years
Midlife typically brings heightened social obligations and interactive opportunities through career and family, which could explain the reduction in loneliness during this stage. Nevertheless, the correlation between social engagements and loneliness is multifaceted; Professor Graham pointed out that abundant social contacts do not necessarily mitigate the feeling of loneliness.
The comprehensive study, with contributions from Tomiko Yoneda, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, delved into the development of loneliness over a person’s lifespan. Key factors impacting loneliness in later years include the scale and quality of one’s social network and having a life partner
Tailored Intervention Strategies
Understanding the U-shaped loneliness pattern and its determinants among adults is critical for crafting tailored intervention strategies that can help reduce loneliness throughout various life phases.
