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Loneliness follows a peculiar trajectory through adulthood, as indicated by a recent study from Northwestern Medicine, delving into nine longitudinal studies from various corners of the globe.

Published on April 30 in the journal Psychological Science, the study aggregates data from diverse sources, spanning the U.K., Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia, Israel and the U.S., revealing the global scope of the loneliness phenomenon.

Factors linked to persistent loneliness include gender disproportionality, social isolation, lower education, reduced income, functional limitations, marital status, smoking habits and compromised health, Neuroscience News reported.

The study sheds light on the gravity of loneliness, equating its risks with daily smoking, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's office, which sounded the alarm on America's loneliness epidemic a year ago.

Lead author Eileen Graham, associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, noted that loneliness tends to peak in both younger and older adulthood, while dipping during middle age, a pattern known as the U-shaped curve.

Graham emphasized the consistency of increased loneliness in older age, underscoring its potential impact on health outcomes. She stresses the urgency of understanding the drivers of loneliness to develop interventions aimed at its mitigation.

The possibility of integrating loneliness assessments into routine medical check-ups is floated by Graham, suggesting a proactive approach to identifying individuals at risk.

While the study doesn't delve into the specific reasons for lower loneliness in middle adulthood, the authors speculate on the influence of social interactions inherent in the stage's demands, such as marriage, work and parenting.

"As people age and develop through young adulthood into midlife, they start to set down roots and become established, solidifying adult friend groups, social networks and life partners," said Tomiko Yoneda, co-author and assistant professor of psychology at University of California, Davis.

Graham remarked that the connection between social interaction and loneliness is intricate saying, "you can have a lot of social interaction and still be lonely or, alternatively, be relatively isolated and not feel lonely."

Yoneda suggests that establishing meaningful social connections can help mitigate loneliness risks, particularly for older adults who are unmarried.