Middle-age adults in US are lonelier than in most other countries

By Dr. Gregory Dudzik

American adults are hitting peak loneliness years before retirement, something not seen in most other countries, according to a new study.

The study, which included a sample of more than 64,000 adults ages 50 and older across 29 countries, found that unlike most other countries in the study, loneliness was most concentrated during middle-age in the United States.

"This relationship we saw where middle-aged adults had a higher level of loneliness is really important," Dr. Robin A. Richardson, primary author of the study and assistant professor in the department of epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, told ABC News.

Older adults or adolescents have typically been the focus of loneliness interventions, Richardson explained, because they are the groups thought to be at the most risk.

"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," she said.

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People cross a street as the sun sets.

The U.S. and the Netherlands were the only two countries where loneliness peaked in middle-age rather than in seniors, according to the study, published Monday in the medical journal Aging & Mental Health.

In the U.S., not working was a strong driver of midlife loneliness, unlike in many countries where being without a job tended to affect older adults more, or was not a major contributor.

Many additional factors besides work status played a role in age-related differences in loneliness, the study found. These included being unmarried, probable depression and having poor self-rated health. However, the study could not identify about 20% of the differences in loneliness due to age.

Whatever the reasons, loneliness is a serious public health threat in the U.S., linked to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and early death.

A 2023 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General warned that the health impact of loneliness rivals smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

The advisory suggested looking for ways to help others -- whether family and friends at home or strangers in your community -- as a way to counter feelings of isolation and loneliness.

It also recommended joining in group activities such as workout classes, groups based around a shared interest or hobby, or religious groups. When spending quality time with others, do your best to limit distractions like checking your phone, and make time every day to connect with someone you care about.

Richardson shared similar advice.

"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?" she said, speaking with ABC News. "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."

If your loneliness lingers, starts to affect your mental health or feels overwhelming, reach out to family, friends or a healthcare provider, or call the 988 crisis line for support.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are not on your own.

Dr. Gregory Dudzik is the chief resident of the General Preventive Medicine Residency Program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.