People who experience loneliness are significantly more likely to suffer poorer mental health, lower wellbeing and worse overall health, according to a new study that adds to growing calls for loneliness to be treated as a public health priority.
The research, led by the University of Bristol, found that loneliness has a strong association with mental ill health and reduced wellbeing, while also being linked to poorer general health and a greater likelihood of living with multiple health conditions.
The findings are based on an analysis of UK Biobank data alongside large-scale genetic studies, making it one of the most comprehensive investigations into the health impacts of loneliness and social isolation.
The researchers combined three different methods – observational analysis, sibling comparisons and a genetics-based technique known as Mendelian randomisation – to understand whether loneliness itself contributes to poor health or whether other factors are responsible for the relationship.
The team, which also included researchers from the universities of Oxford and Manchester, distinguished between loneliness (how people perceive the quality of their social relationships) and social isolation (which relates to the number of social connections a person has).
While both loneliness and social isolation were associated with poorer mental health and lower levels of wellbeing, loneliness showed the strongest links to poorer overall health.
The researchers found people experiencing loneliness were more likely to report multiple health conditions, although the study found no clear evidence that loneliness directly caused specific physical illnesses. They cautioned that any physical health impacts cannot yet be ruled out and require further investigation.
The findings come amid increasing recognition of loneliness as a significant public health challenge, with previous studies linking it to a range of health problems. However, researchers say it has remained unclear whether loneliness itself drives poorer health or whether the relationship is explained by other social and economic factors.
Dr Zoe Reed, Research Fellow in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol, and corresponding author, said: ‘Our findings suggest that loneliness, and possibly social isolation, are still important public health concerns, especially for mental health and general health. Supporting people who feel lonely or socially isolated could help improve mental health, wellbeing and overall health.’
Because the study focused on middle-aged and older adults, the researchers say future work should examine whether the same patterns are seen in younger people. They also want to explore the effects of persistent or long-term loneliness, as participants’ loneliness was measured at only a single point in time.
Lauren Bowes Byatt, Director of Nesta’s healthy life mission, added: ‘This research underlines that loneliness is likely to have a detrimental impact on our mental health and wellbeing. While this link may seem obvious, the topic has long been understudied. Studies like this can help to bridge this research gap and by understanding how loneliness or social isolation may be contributing to ill-health, we can get closer to new and more effective solutions.’
The full research can be read here.
Photo: Paola Chaaya
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