Prolonged Loneliness May Triple Risk of Early Death in Middle-Aged Women: Study Finds

Sydney: An Australian study has, for the first time, established a causal relationship between chronic loneliness and early death in middle-aged women. The research, published in BMJ Medicine, analysed more than two decades of data from over 57,000 women participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

The study focused on women aged between 48 and 55 and found that those who consistently reported feeling lonely over a 15-year span faced a threefold increase in the risk of premature death compared to their non-lonely counterparts. Specifically, women who did not experience persistent loneliness had a 5% mortality risk, while that risk rose sharply to 15% among those who reported ongoing loneliness.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, and Western Sydney University, the study highlights the significant health implications of social isolation. Lead author Dr. Neta HaGani emphasized the need for loneliness to be recognized and screened for in clinical settings, much like traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. “We also need to demystify and destigmatize loneliness,” she said, calling for greater public awareness.

Senior author Professor Melody Ding noted that midlife is often a challenging period for women, who may juggle caregiving responsibilities for both children and ageing parents. Additionally, many women at this stage experience major life changes—such as menopause, retirement, or children leaving home—that may exacerbate social isolation and feelings of loneliness.

The researchers also uncovered a dose-dependent relationship between loneliness and early death, meaning that the more often loneliness was reported over the years, the higher the risk of mortality.

Although similar long-term data on men is lacking, Ding stressed that midlife may be a particularly vulnerable period for women, warranting focused attention.

The findings underscore the need for integrated public health interventions and clinical practices aimed at identifying and addressing chronic loneliness, especially in middle-aged women, to potentially mitigate its long-term health consequences.