Middle-aged Americans are lonelier than their European counterparts. That's that Key finding of my team's latest studypublished in American Psychologist.
Our study identified a trend that has been developing for several generations and affects each baby boomers and Generation X. Middle-aged adults in England and Mediterranean Europe aren’t far behind the United States. In contrast, middle-aged adults in continental and northern Europe reported the bottom levels of loneliness and stability over time.
We used survey data from over 53,000 middle-aged adults from the United States and 13 European countries from 2002 to 2020. We tracked their reported changes in loneliness every two years in middle age, ages 45 to 65. This period gave us data from the so-called silent generation of individuals born between 1937 and 1945; baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964; and members of Generation X, born between 1965 and 1974.
Our study makes it clear that middle-aged Americans today experience more loneliness than their counterparts in European countries. This is consistent with existing evidence for this Death rates are rising for working-age adults within the United States
We focused on middle-aged adults for several reasons. By their structure, middle-aged adults form the backbone of society a big a part of the workforce. But today additionally they face ever greater challenges, especially relating to the demand for support from either side aging parents and their children.
After the Great Recession from late 2007 to 2009, middle-aged adults within the U.S. reported poorer mental and physical health in comparison with peers within the Nineties. Compared to several European countries, middle-aged adults within the United States are currently reporting more depressive symptoms and better rates of chronic illness, pain and disability.
Why it matters
The desire to belong is one innate and fundamental need. If that is missing, this may have downstream consequences.
Loneliness is harmful to your health. Researchers have found that loneliness just as dangerous as smoking. Loneliness increases vulnerability Illness, depression, chronic illness and premature death.
Loneliness is taken into account a worldwide public health problem. The US Surgeon General released a Advisory report in 2023 Documenting an epidemic of loneliness and the urgent have to strengthen social connections. Other nations, akin to the UK and Japanhave appointed Loneliness Ministers to make sure relationships and loneliness are taken under consideration in policy making.
What just isn’t yet known
Why are middle-aged Americans exceptional relating to loneliness and poorer overall mental and physical health?
We didn’t test this directly in our study, but hope to look at the aspects driving these trends in additional detail in the long run. We imagine that the loneliness Americans report in comparison with other nations is on account of limited social safety nets and cultural norms that value individualism over community.
Individualization comes with psychological costs, akin to: B. the dismantling of social connections and support structures. that include loneliness. Compared to the opposite nations in our study, Americans did this a better propensity to maneuverwhich is related to weak social and community ties.
One of the explanations we selected countries from across Europe is that they differ significantly from the United States when it comes to social and economic opportunities and social safety nets. Social and economic inequalities are more likely to increase an individual's loneliness by undermining the flexibility to fulfill basic needs. Generous family and work policies Loneliness in midlife is more likely to be reduced by reducing financial pressures, work-family conflicts, and addressing health and gender inequalities.
Our findings on loneliness, combined with previous studies of life expectancy, health, well-being, and cognition, suggest that middle age is a risk factor for poor mental and physical health outcomes in America.
image credit : theconversation.com