A large-scale study has linked the combination of loneliness and social isolation to fewer expected years of life free from mental health disorders, with a greater effect among men. The findings indicated that men experiencing both conditions could lose about 5.8 years of life free from depression and anxiety, compared with about 3.7 years among women.
Study data and the UK Biobank sample
The findings showed that the combination of loneliness and isolation was associated with a marked reduction in years of life free from anxiety and depression, particularly among men. By contrast, the difference associated with major physical illnesses was smaller than that recorded for mental health, at about 1.7 years among men and 2.4 years among women. The study was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications in August 2026.
Hypotheses for men’s greater impact on mental health
The study does not provide a definitive explanation for why men were more affected in terms of years of mental health, but it proposes hypotheses linked to the nature of relationships and social support networks. Some men may rely on a limited circle of people for emotional support, while some women may have more varied and extensive social networks.
According to the hypotheses discussed by the researchers, the loss of the limited relationships on which some men rely could increase their exposure to a lack of psychological and social support. However, the researchers do not regard this explanation as a general rule applying to everyone, nor do the findings mean that women are less affected by loneliness in all situations and circumstances.
The difference between loneliness and social isolation
The researchers distinguish between loneliness and social isolation as two different concepts, although they can occur together. Loneliness is a personal feeling of lacking emotional connection or being dissatisfied with relationships, and a person can experience it even when surrounded by others. Social isolation, by contrast, means having limited relationships, contact and participation in social activities.
This distinction means that one person may live alone without feeling lonely, while another may experience loneliness despite having a wide network of acquaintances. The study’s findings indicate that the combination of a personal feeling of loneliness with limited social contact and participation is associated with worse mental health outcomes.
The researchers also found that a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity, a good diet and regular sleep, may reduce some of the negative health associations linked to social isolation. However, the findings did not show that these habits offset the effect associated with loneliness itself. This means that looking after physical health remains important, but it does not necessarily replace human relationships and social support.
The study stressed the need to distinguish between a shorter lifespan and a reduction in the number of years a person enjoys good mental health. The findings do not mean that a lonely man will die about six years earlier than someone else; rather, they indicate that loneliness and isolation are associated with fewer expected years lived without depression or anxiety.
The findings are based on an observational study and therefore do not establish a direct causal relationship between loneliness and isolation on the one hand and mental health disorders on the other. Nevertheless, the study highlights the importance of social relationships as a potential factor in supporting mental health and preventing illness as people age, rather than merely as a means of entertainment or passing the time.
