Over the years, loneliness sometimes invites itself insidiously in our lives, far beyond the simple passenger feeling. Identifying this pivotal moment and detecting the first signs of isolation is essential to preserve your personal balance and your health.
When does loneliness start to settle?
Contrary to what we often imagine, the feeling of loneliness does not increase linearly with age. According to a vast study published in 2024, carried out on more than 128,000 people aged 13 to 103 in more than 20 countries, loneliness follows a curve in U: it reaches its minimum around quarantine before going back into advanced adulthood. This means that the tendency to isolation increases above all after 60-65 years, when social networks are reduced, that health or mobility is weakening, but it does not spare the youngest: recent surveys show that loneliness also progresses in adolescents and young adults.
The consequences of isolation on health
Social isolation is not a trivial state. According to a 2015 study, missing social ties would be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day or suffering from alcoholism. The consequences go beyond psychological well-being: loneliness increases the risks of cardiovascular disorders, depression, cognitive loss, and even reduces life expectancy. It would weigh twice as heavily on health as obesity.
The main signs to monitor
Some signals must alert:
- Decrease in contacts with family and friends
- Feeling that relationships lack meaning or support
- Less interest in collective activities (sport, clubs, associations)
- Difficulty in expressing your emotions or sharing your thoughts
- Tend to spend a lot of time in front of the screens
- More negative vision or self-criticism or others
- Social withdrawal despite the desire for links
Isolation behavior, volunteers or not, strengthen the feeling of loneliness and must be taken seriously.
Is there a “critical age”?
Studies certainly show an increase in isolation after 65 years, but emphasize that other factors are just as decisive: celibacy or widowhood, physical health concerns, a loss of autonomy, a lower level of education or the absence of a support community. The feeling of isolation can therefore occur at any age, especially if these elements accumulate.
Prevent loneliness over time
In order not to let solitude settle, it is recommended to:
- Maintain or reconnect with loved ones
- Engage in collective activities
- Create a confidence network, even limited
- Stay attentive to your emotional needs and agree to express your feelings
- Take the initiative to go towards the other, sometimes even when it seems difficult
Recognizing the first signs is already a first step towards action.
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