Elderly with no partner or family contact face higher risk of early death

Loneliness and social isolation among older adults can have serious health consequences, according to a new study based on data from the extensive NorLAG survey (norlag.nsd.no) conducted at OsloMet.

The study followed nearly 10,000 Norwegians over a 20-year period and found that increased social isolation – defined as living without a partner or having infrequent contact with family and friends – raises the risk of early death by approximately 15 percent.

“This highlights the importance of strengthening ties with family and friends and creating social meeting places in later life,” says researcher Marja Aartsen at NOVA – Norwegian Social Research at OsloMet.

The research accounted for a range of factors, including age, income, education, and physical and mental health, ensuring robust conclusions.

The findings were recently published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.

“Although both loneliness and social isolation increase mortality risk for men and women, our results show that social isolation plays a more significant role,” explains Aartsen.

The study identifies lack of a partner or infrequent contact with children as the primary drivers of increased mortality risk, with similar effects observed in both men and women.

Increased mortality risk for lonely men

The study also examines how men and women experience and report loneliness. Men who reported feeling lonely “sometimes” or “often” had a significantly higher risk of dying during the follow-up period, with mortality risk rising by 20 percent. For women, no such link was found.

“This gender difference may stem from loneliness being more stigmatised for men, who might only report it when it is particularly severe,” Aartsen explains. 

Interestingly, loneliness measured indirectly – avoiding the explicit use of the term “lonely” – does not show a clear link to increased mortality.

“We find that men are less likely than women to report loneliness in surveys, but when they do, our results suggest their loneliness is profound and may have serious consequences,” she adds.

Social ties protect health

The study confirms that social relationships are crucial for the longevity of older adults. Previous research has long indicated that a lack of social support negatively affects both mental and physical health. 

Loneliness and isolation increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease, depression, and even cognitive decline.

“We also know that partners and adult children provide much of the informal care for older adults in Norway, acting as a safety net when help is needed. This may further explain the importance of these relationships for mortality,” says co-author and NOVA researcher Hanna Vangen.

“While many older adults maintain connections with family and friends, others experience the loss of a partner, siblings, or friends later in life. Our findings underscore the need to strengthen social bonds and communities among older adults, especially for those without a partner or children,” Aartsen adds.

A growing problem after the pandemic

The NorLAG study is one of the largest population studies on ageing in Norway. Researchers used national registry data to track mortality among participants, with findings based on three rounds of data collection in 2002, 2007, and 2017.

The study comes at a time when loneliness among older adults has received increased attention, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many older adults experienced isolation during lockdowns, and it remains unclear how the pandemic will affect loneliness in the long term,” Vangen notes.

The researchers emphasise that social isolation and loneliness are distinct but related phenomena. Social isolation refers to a lack of contact with others, while loneliness is a subjective feeling of inadequate social relationships. Both can harm health, but they operate in different ways.

The researchers point out that the findings of this study with older Norwegians are not unique. Studies from other countries also find that loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of mortality.

However, the conclusions are slightly inconsistent. Some find that loneliness poses a greater risk on mortality while others believe that social isolation is more detrimental.

“In our study, we have a very long follow-up, 20 years, which increases chances to find long term impacts. We also consider potential changes in loneliness and social isolation during follow-up that other studies rarely do, which may also have led to some differences in the outcomes,” concludes Aartsen.

Social initiatives can save lives

The researchers argue that society must take action to reduce loneliness and social isolation among older adults.

“This is about more than just improving well-being. Social ties can save lives,” says Vangen.

“It’s wise to invest in building and maintaining a large, diverse network throughout life. Facilitating meeting places and activities for older adults, as well as sustaining connections with family and friends, can significantly enhance life expectancy and improve quality of life.”

Reference

Aartsen, M., Vangen, H., Pavlidis, G., Hansen, T., & Precupetu, I. (2024). The unique and synergistic effects of social isolation and loneliness on 20-years mortality risks in older men and women (frontiersin.org). Frontiers in Public Health.