Recent research has found that contrary to popular belief, older Americans are not the most lonely age group in the United States. A study conducted by Robin Richardson and colleagues analyzed data from three demographic surveys involving over 64,000 individuals aged 50 to 90 across 29 countries. The findings do signal a significant and surprising shift away from the U.S. In contrast to other countries, where loneliness tends to increase with age, Americans feel less lonely as they age.
The ARC research team found that age-related inequalities in loneliness were approximately -.222, indicating that the young are lonelier than the old. The United States continued to look like an outlier, with a score of -0.08, by far the lowest in the countries surveyed. In fact, younger populations in the U.S. report higher levels of loneliness than older generations. This negative score captures the sizeable disparity in loneliness between these age groups. Only the Netherlands was close to this figure with -0.064.
In dramatic opposition, three-quarters of the countries surveyed had a pattern where loneliness actually worsened with age. In the countries that reported the lowest levels of loneliness overall, like Denmark, we can see a major indicator of cultural impact on experiences with social isolation.
The participants in the survey responded using a 0 to 6 Likert-type scale. This scale went from “never” to “very often,” allowing researchers to more precisely measure their perception of loneliness. Health and employment status explains nearly 80 percent of midlife loneliness in the United States. Beyond that, Richardson challenged us to examine racial and social factors in society.
“In the U.S. context at least, I think there is a story to be told about how middle-aged adults have very constrained leisure time.” – Robin Richardson
This observation points to a major blind spot in today’s social narrative and policy response to loneliness. Yet, historically, most of these efforts have focused on seniors. In recent years, they’ve turned their efforts towards teenagers and young adults. Middle-aged adults remain an overlooked population.
Richardson’s findings make clear an important truth. Time pressures experienced by middle-aged Americans may be an important driver behind their malaise of loneliness. With demanding work schedules and family responsibilities, this group may find it increasingly challenging to engage in social activities that could alleviate loneliness.
Loneliness, though, is getting a lot of press these days. It is imperative that policymakers and researchers alike identify and address the specific issues affecting middle-aged Americans. Recognizing the societal drivers of this alarming trend helps to arm advocates. Equipped with this understanding, they can develop tailored approaches to promote engagement among this frequently marginalized demographic.
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