Loneliness and social isolation among Americans aged 50 to 80 have largely reverted to the levels observed before the pandemic, according to a recent study published in JAMA. However, over one-third of older adults still experience loneliness, and nearly as many report feeling socially isolated. The research highlights significant disparities, with individuals facing mental or physical health challenges experiencing much higher rates of both loneliness and isolation.
Loneliness and social isolation are distinct yet interconnected experiences that can profoundly impact individuals, especially older adults. Loneliness is the subjective feeling of being alone or lacking companionship, while social isolation refers to the objective state of having limited connections to family, friends, or a broader community. Although these experiences are not synonymous, both can lead to serious physical and mental health consequences.
Chronic loneliness has been linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, while social isolation is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, weakened immune function, and reduced life expectancy. These issues are particularly concerning for older adults, who may face life transitions such as retirement, the loss of loved ones, or health challenges that reduce opportunities for social interaction.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought these concerns into sharper focus. Social distancing measures disrupted social connections and heightened feelings of loneliness and isolation. Older adults, a group already vulnerable to these experiences, were disproportionately affected as they were encouraged to avoid in-person interactions to protect their health. This sudden and widespread shift underscored the need to understand how these experiences evolve over time and how specific groups are affected differently.
A research team at the University of Michigan began investigating loneliness and isolation in 2018 as part of their National Poll on Healthy Aging, a nationally representative survey focusing on health issues among older Americans. Recognizing the unique challenges posed by the pandemic, the researchers continued to assess loneliness and isolation, aiming to understand how these experiences evolved and persisted.
“Our team initially asked about loneliness and social isolation in 2018, since these are important but often overlooked health issues for older adults,” said study author Preeti Malani, a professor of medicine. “In early 2020, we decided to revisit these issues (asking the same questions to similarly aged national samples of older adults age 50-80) because the pandemic was uniquely difficult in terms of social interactions. We have continued to track this number since that time, presenting 6 years’ worth of results in the current study.”
Each survey involved between 2,051 and 2,576 respondents aged 50 to 80. The researchers asked participants how often they felt a lack of companionship or felt isolated from others over the past year. Response options ranged from “hardly ever” to “some of the time” and “often.”
The surveys were conducted online in collaboration with different panels to ensure national representation. In 2018 and 2020-2021, data were collected through Ipsos KnowledgePanel, while the NORC AmeriSpeak panel was used from 2022 onward. Respondents also provided information on their physical and mental health, household income, living arrangements, and employment status. Using survey weights, the researchers analyzed the data to reflect population-level estimates for adults aged 50 to 80 across the United States.
The findings reveal a mixed picture. Rates of loneliness and social isolation in 2024 closely mirrored pre-pandemic levels but remained troublingly high.
In 2024, 33% of older adults reported feeling a lack of companionship at least some of the time, a figure comparable to 34% in 2018. Similarly, 29% reported feeling isolated in 2024, slightly above the 27% recorded in 2018. During the pandemic’s early months in 2020, these rates had spiked to 41% for loneliness and 56% for social isolation, highlighting the impact of lockdown measures.
Certain groups consistently experienced higher rates of loneliness and isolation:
- Mental and physical health: Older adults with fair or poor mental health reported strikingly high levels of loneliness (75%) and social isolation (77%) in 2024. Similarly, those with fair or poor physical health had elevated rates of loneliness (53%) and isolation (52%).
- Employment status: Those not working or receiving disability income had loneliness rates of 52% and isolation rates of 50%, up from 38% and 36% in 2018.
- Living alone: Individuals living alone were more likely to report loneliness and isolation, though rates for this group improved in 2024 compared to earlier years.
“These trends make it clear: clinicians should see loneliness and isolation as a key factor in their patients’ lives, especially those with serious physical or mental health conditions,” said poll director Jeffrey Kullgren, an associate professor of internal medicine and primary care clinician at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Interestingly, relatively younger adults within the study population (aged 50-64) were more likely to experience loneliness and isolation than those aged 65-80. Additionally, individuals with household incomes below $60,000 reported higher rates of these experiences compared to those with higher incomes.
“Loneliness and isolation are common among older adults,” Malani told PsyPost. “About one third of people age 50 to 80 feel lonely, and nearly as many feel isolated. And some older adults, especially those dealing with major physical health or mental health issues, report much higher rates of loneliness and isolation than others.”
“One of the reasons this is an important topic of study is that loneliness and social isolation can be addressed—often in low-cost ways that benefit everyone. Clinicians should screen older adults for loneliness and social isolation the same way they might ask about diet and exercise—and offer resources to help address these concerns. Family members and community members should think about these issues—be intentional about calling, visiting, and including older adults in your day to day lives.”
“We can all pick up the phone or walk across the street,” Malani continued. “Policy makers should also think about these issues as major population health concerns—offering transportation or community centers may help many people and families. Just like the reasons for loneliness and social isolation vary, so do the solutions. Different people can benefit from different resources. We can all be part of the solution.”
The paper, “Loneliness and Social Isolation Among US Older Adults,” was authored by Preeti N. Malani, Erica Solway, Matthias Kirch, Dianne C. Singer, J. Scott Roberts, and Jeffrey T. Kullgren.
