About one-third of adults age 45 and older report feeling lonely — and experiencing social isolation
Alarmingly, due to an increase of aging adults, the number of people experiencing social isolation is growing. As Claudine Cousins, CEO of Empower Simcoe and Sandbox Centre HR CNNX group champion would agree, as human beings, we have an innate need to be connected to others, to belong.
People who are lonely and experiencing social isolation are more likely to have health problems, which can have serious financial implications. Social isolation isn't restricted to life outside of the workplace either. A common theme within workplaces that do not have explicit or adopted diversity and inclusion policies can be extremely detrimental to these feelings of loneliness as this is where many spend the majority of their time. Social isolation among midlife and older adults is associated with an estimated $6.7 billion in additional healthcare spending annually in some countries. It is also attributed to a decrease of productivity, withdrawal from people at work, including absence, and ultimately a lower performing team. Let's take a deeper look into the AARP study to determine how we can positively effect change in our own workplace.
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What Factors into Loneliness
A national survey of 3,020 midlife and older adults was designed to get a current snapshot of loneliness and how it relates to social isolation factors. Building on a previous study by AARP in 2010, it explores the relationship between loneliness and social connections, life experiences, health, and technology. Researchers used the UCLA Loneliness Scale, calculated from a battery of 20 questions, to measure loneliness.
Top predictors of loneliness: size and diversity of an individual’s social network and being physically isolated. As noted; these realities often extend to include workplace loneliness, and the feeling of not having 'best friends', that then directly effect productivity. Other contributing factors include age, depression, urbanicity, anxiety and overall health.
The results indicate loneliness has approximately the same incidence across race and ethnicity. New in this most recent study is the finding that LGBTQ status plays a role in loneliness. Midlife and older adults who identify as LGBTQ are more likely to be lonely (49%) compared to those who do not (35%). Adults who never married or who are divorced or separated tend to be lonelier than those married — although marital happiness is a factor. Just 26% of adults who are very -or- somewhat satisfied with their partner are lonely, compared to 48% who are very -or- somewhat unsatisfied.
Also new in this most recent study is the finding that getting to know one’s neighbours can help reduce loneliness. 33% of midlife and older adults who have ever spoken to their neighbours are lonely, compared with 61% who have never spoken to a neighbour. Important to note, the findings suggest that feelings of loneliness usually do not stem from one single event. This has encouraging implications — in that there would seem to be multiple opportunities available to intervene.
The study findings that 35% of midlife and older adults are lonely is unchanged from 2010, the population of lonely people over age 45 has grown by 5 million, from 42.6 million to 47.8 million. Of those individuals counted as being lonely, 41% say feelings of loneliness and isolation have persisted for six years or more, while 31% indicate they have felt lonely for one to five years, and 26% for up to a year. Taking this and putting it into context of your own workplace, while understanding the implications this will have for your organization - should lead you to the conclusion that this is something you should want to address. Specifically, for the well being of your team as individuals and also as a collective. The culture of your organization will be greatly impacted by the feeling of connectedness vs. isolation.
A few strategies you can employ in your workplace would include;
- Evaluate the organization’s current state of social connection by asking employees whether they feel valued and whether the corporate culture supports connectedness. Asking these kinds of questions can help inspire positivity and open communication.
- Build understanding at all levels about high-quality relationships at work. Encourage leaders to establish bonds with employees that will enrich both audiences. It may also be helpful to have new-hires make connections right from the start. During onboarding, these opportunities exist with team lunches or assigning a “work buddy” to show the ropes. These early opportunities for social engagement help new hires make connections sooner.
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The Social Media Age
Social media use among midlife and older adults has more than tripled since 2010. Now 42% report engaging in social media, up from AARP’s previous survey on loneliness, when only 13% used the likes of Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. Yet social media does not necessarily curb social isolation.
When other social isolation factors are controlled, use of technology for communication has a small but significant effect on loneliness: As people use social media more, they report feeling more lonely, according to the survey. When respondents are asked about how being online affects their relationships, their responses reveal that technology tends to amplify pre-existing attitudes.
Chronically lonely adults are more likely to turn to isolated activities to cope with loneliness, such as eating, watching television or surfing the internet, while people who are not chronically lonely tend to talk with a friend or go out with family.
Moving later in life can have negative social implications. People age 45 and older who have lived at their current address for 20 years or more have the lowest rates of loneliness (32%). By contrast, 40% of adults who have relocated in the past 10 years are considered lonely.
Midlife and older adults who volunteer, participate in clubs and attend religious services are less likely to be lonely than those who do not. Those in rural areas also reported lower levels of loneliness than those who lived in cities, and those who said they engaged in more frequent sexual activity also were less likely to be lonely.
Connectedness With Age
When it comes to loneliness, what can midlife and older people expect as they age? Controlling for all other variables, AARP finds that loneliness goes down as people get older. Respondents surveyed in their 40s and 50s were more likely to be lonely than those over age 60. This is consistent with similar research on age and happiness that shows a “midlife” dip in happiness and life satisfaction followed by a reversal of the trend in one’s late 50s or early 60s.
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About the contributorS:
AARP represents the needs of nearly 38 million members with lifestyles and political views as diverse as any group in the United States. Developing public policy recommendations that serve such diversity is a formidable task. We concentrate on the issues most important to those in the 50+ community as they age: economic security; health care; access to affordable, quality long-term care; creating and maintaining livable communities; consumer protections; caregiving; and ensuring that our democracy works better for all.
Jesse Kerr - Creative Commissioner | Sandbox Centre
Jesse is always multitasking.. . . and seems to thrive when juggling priorities and deadlines. He'd tell you he's adaptable because he builds in room for error, adjustment, improvement, alteration and mitigation of foreseeable road blocks into his vision. However, anything that falls outside of this range of acceptability is quickly dispatched because "ain't nobody got time for that"! He's not good at collaborating in large groups - but he sure is good at entertaining them! We're pleased to offer you his perspective that includes his margin for error; alongside an imagineered vision of greatness. Question is - are we going for good, better or best? Cheers!