One in Three Older Americans Is Lonely

A new study from the AARP Foundation found that 35 percent of older Americans experience loneliness, with the over-45 lonely population having grown significantly since 2010, reports Time . AARP determined people who were physically isolated and who had small social networks were most likely to be lonely, while loneliness was less likely among those who reported large and diverse social groups; regular contact with friends, neighbors, and relations; participation in community and religious groups; marriage; and regular sexual activity. Good mental and physical health also correlated with lower levels of loneliness, and adults with higher levels of education and income were less likely to be lonely. In addition, loneliness levels were found to decline with age, with 46 percent of adults ages 45 to 49 classified as lonely, versus 24 percent of those older than 70. A key finding of the study is that more social contact reduces loneliness, as subjects qualifying as lonely tended to have fewer people with whom they said they could "discuss matters of personal importance" or turn to for support. Moreover, frequent interaction with acquaintances on social media appeared to modestly boost a person's likelihood of being lonely. Also of note is that loneliness does not seem to be caused by a single event.