This study in the U.K. shows that that people 55 and up report feeling less lonely than the 18-34 age group but there is a lot to think about before leaping to conclusions.

• One in 10 in the U.K. “often” feel lonely.
• People 55 and up report feeling less lonely than the 18-34 age group.
• One limitation of the research is that there was no effort to test whether the very elderly report the same thing as those in their active retirement years.
• Although this research is not mentioned in the excerpt below there are a number of important studies which suggest that, as people acquire more life experience, they cope better and accept disappointments better. One of the leading sources of this finding is the now-ended Harvard Longitudinal Study on aging—the longest running study of its kind.

BBC

“Loneliness is more prevalent among the young than those past retirement age, a survey suggests, amid profound changes in the way we live and interact.

“Across all ages one in 10 people in the UK often feel lonely, the Mental Health Foundation has found, a state which can impact upon one’s physical health.”

…”Nearly 60% of those aged between 18 to 34 questioned spoke of feeling lonely often or sometimes, compared to 35% of those aged over 55.

“But it is possible there are generational differences in the subjective interpretation of what it is to be lonely. In addition, the survey did not break down the differences between the active 55-year-old enjoying retirement and the frail, isolated 80-year-old.”

Source: BBC, May 25, 2010

Source: Mental Health Foundation Report, May, 2010