BMC: loneliness may vary with age

A recent study published in the open-access journal BMC Public Health pointed out that adult loneliness may vary depending on age

The study’s corresponding author Thanée Franssen said: “Most of the studies on loneliness so far have targeted people of specific age groups (such as the elderly or adolescents) or people with specific health conditions

The research team from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and the South Limburg Public Health Service used data collected in the Netherlands from September to December 2016.

Overall, 10309 people (44.

The researchers found that some factors are associated with loneliness across all age groups

Some factors are only related to loneliness in certain age groups

The author proposes that when a person’s actual situation deviates from the “conventional” setting of his/her age group (for example, finishing school, having a job, having a partner or children, etc.

Thanée Franssen said: “Identifying the factors associated with loneliness is necessary for the development and targeted adoption of appropriate interventions

The author reminds that some factors that may affect people's loneliness—such as the quality of relationships—are not included in the current study because they are not part of the original data

Thanée Franssen said: “Our research results also show that during the current COVID-19 pandemic, adults’ loneliness may be affected differently due to important factors in their life stages

original:

Age differences in demographic, social and health-related factors associated with loneliness across the adult life span (19–65 years): a cross-sectional study in the Netherlands BMC Public Health 2020 DOI: 10.