Scientists analyzed data from more than 380,000 men and women over 65 years of age living in Canada, Finland, and New Zealand. All participants received home care from social services in their country of residence, which allowed them to maintain independence for longer. Scientists assessed all factors from age to medical history and compared how they affected the risks of premature mortality during the year of observation. The findings of the study are published on the website of the University of Waterloo.
Although loneliness was common among the volunteers, it was not associated with increased risks of death. In fact, the risks of death were actually lower for lonely people compared to non-lonely people after controlling for age, health, and other important factors.
Notably, participants in higher physical fitness who received less help were more likely to feel lonely.
"Thus, it is important to consider loneliness as a quality of life issue rather than focusing solely on potential mortality risks," the authors said.
Scientists do not deny the fact that loneliness remains a serious threat to a person's psychological well-being and this problem is indeed relevant for the elderly. However, it would be more rational to direct efforts to improving the quality of life of older people, they believe.
Recently, other scientists have found biomarkers in the blood that are linked to poor health when social deprivation occurs. This discovery could form the basis for a “loneliness test” that would allow objectively identifying people at risk.
