Latest news with #EstebanCalvo
Euronews
23-04-2025
- Health
- Euronews
People tend to get lonelier as they age, but it's worse for seniors in these European countries
ADVERTISEMENT Europeans can expect to get lonelier as they age – but Americans could face their biggest social lull in midlife, new research suggests. Loneliness has emerged as a major public health issue that raises the risk of everything from depression and type 2 diabetes to dementia and stroke. But it's often thought of as a problem afflicting the very young and the very old, with the middle-aged population sometimes overlooked. For the new study, researchers measured the loneliness levels of more than 64,000 people aged 50 to 90 in 29 countries, most of them in Europe. They used a loneliness scale that took into account how often people felt they lacked companionship, were left out, or socially isolated. Middle-aged and older adults were the loneliest in Cyprus and Greece, according to the study published in the journal Aging & Mental Health . They were the least lonely in Denmark, Switzerland, and Austria. Related Scientists find lifestyle and living conditions have greater impact on healthy ageing than genes Across countries, people tended to get lonelier as they aged – but just how much lonelier depended on where they lived, with those in Bulgaria and Latvia seeing the biggest increases with age. At all ages, loneliness was linked to not working and being unmarried, depressed, or in poor health, but how important these factors were depended on the country and age group. In the United States, for example, being out of work was closely tied to loneliness in midlife. It was the only country where middle-aged people felt more lonely than older generations. (The same trend emerged in the Netherlands, but the report noted data limitations that make that association less certain.) 'A signal to seek more connections' The differences between countries and age groups suggest that loneliness isn't just a natural consequence of ageing – it's likely tied to broader social factors such as work and caregiving demands, the researchers said. Related Thinking of retiring abroad? You might be lonelier than if you stayed home, new study suggests 'Our findings show that loneliness is not just a late-life issue,' Esteban Calvo, a dean at the Universidad Mayor in Chile and the study's senior author, said in a statement. 'A one-size-fits-all approach will not solve this worldwide problem,' Calvo added. The report has a few limitations, notably that data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic and that response rates were low in some countries, meaning the findings may not be fully representative. It also did not suss out the factors it says are linked to loneliness. A single person could be divorced, widowed, or never married, for example, while an out-of-work person could either be unemployed or retired – and these distinctions could make a big difference. Related Using smartphones may protect older adults against cognitive problems like dementia as they age 'Some things that are not necessarily that actionable. … Everyone eventually loses a partner,' Caterina Mauri, a senior researcher at the Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies at the Free University of Brussels (VUB), told Euronews Health. But given the links between loneliness, health outcomes, and quality of life, it's a topic she believes deserves more attention – for people of all ages. 'Loneliness is something that is part of our lives, but it becomes problematic when it's chronic, when it leads to depression,' said Mauri, who was not involved with the new study. ADVERTISEMENT Loneliness 'is a bit like hunger,' she said, serving as a 'signal to seek more connections'.
New York Post
22-04-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Loneliness epidemic is hitting these countries the hardest — and Americans should be worried
According to a recent study, there are many lonely souls in this world. People can feel lonely for any reason at any age — however, those 50 and older are said to be the most lonesome. Where are these desolate people? Advertisement After studying 29 countries and their loneliness rates — a team of Emory University scientists found that Greece and its neighbor, Cyprus, have the loneliest people. Slovakia and Italy almost tied for second place. The US shouldn't get too cocky though, because it managed to make the top five list. 4 Surprisingly, Italy tied for second place on the lonely list. Getty Images Advertisement While the elderly often describe themselves as feeling the most alone — the study findings revealed that the US was filled with more lonely middle-aged adults compared to all other countries — except the Netherlands. 'There is a general perception that people get lonelier as they age, but the opposite is actually true in the US where middle-aged people are lonelier than older generations,' said Dr Robin Richardson, a professor at Emory University. 4 Not being married, being unemployed, mental health issues and poor health are what's reportedly causing people who are in their prime to be unhappy and feel withdrawn in the US. Getty Images Not being married, being unemployed, mental health issues and poor health are what's reportedly causing people who are in their prime to be unhappy and feel withdrawn in the US. Advertisement 'Our findings show that loneliness is not just a late-life issue. In fact, many middle-aged adults—often juggling work, caregiving, and isolation—are surprisingly vulnerable and need targeted interventions just as much as older adults, added Dr. Esteban Calvo, according to the Daily Mail. Yet, those same reasons are what's causing older people in other countries to feel isolated. 4 The study showed that regardless of where someone lives — they can still feel lonely. Evgeni – Clearly, there's a worldwide loneliness epidemic on our hands. Advertisement But it's not all doom and gloom everywhere. Denmark might have a small population — but they seem to be the most satisfied, as the country ranked last on the list. 4 Middle-aged people are feeling just as alone as older adults. oleg_p_100 – Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Spain were also low on the list. The top 10 loneliest countries (ranked from loneliest to least lonely) 1. Greece 2. Cyprus 3. Slovakia 4. Italy 5. United States Advertisement 6. Israel 7. Czech Republic 8. Romania 9. Bulgaria Advertisement 10. Latvia While this study points out that both middle-aged and older folks feel the most withdrawn — a specific type of loneliness has recently struck women in their 30s. It's known on social media as 'girlhood FOMO' — which is the fear of missing out on the close-knit female friendship groups often portrayed in media. Popular TV shows like 'Sex and the City' put female friendships at the forefront — leaving many young women feeling disheartened if they don't have their own Charlotte, Samantha, Carrie and Miranda type of clique. Advertisement 27-year-old Eliza Becker shared on social media more insight into how this phenomenon has personally affected her. 'I often feel this way, and it has led me to do many things on my own — which I'm perfectly okay with — but it's just times like this that you'd appreciate company,' Advertisement 'I think as girls, we are often made to believe we need a group,' she said. 'We're constantly told about the importance of 'girlhood' and having a solid circle of friends to talk through life issues and relationships with'.
