Does loneliness or social isolation predict early death?
Answered November 2, 202610 sources
EvidenceBModerateGood evidence in people with one real weakness. New studies could change the answer.
Yes. Socially isolated people died earlier in studies that followed people over time, about a third more often than connected people. Lonely people died about 15% more often, though results varied.
Who it's for
Adults of any age, especially older adults, who are isolated or lonely.
What to expect
A modest higher risk of early death, not a certain outcome.
Watch out for
These studies show links, and they can't prove isolation causes death.
Social isolation and loneliness both raise the risk of early death
Each dot is the pooled increase in risk of death from any cause, with a line showing the range the true value likely falls in.
← BetterWorse →
No difference
Social isolation1.32 (1.26 to 1.39)Clear worsening
Loneliness1.14 (1.08 to 1.2)Clear worsening
1
risk of death vs. not isolated, 1 = same
Social isolation and loneliness both raise the risk of early death
The American Heart Association says social isolation and loneliness appear to be independent risk factors for worse heart and brain health. It notes the effects are small, that unmeasured factors may explain some of the link, and that no trials yet show reducing isolation improves these outcomes6Guideline · 2022Effects of Objective and Perceived Social Isolation on Cardiovascular and Brain Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.Conclusions Social isolation and loneliness are common and appear to be independent risk factors for worse cardiovascular and brain health; however, consistency of the associations varies by outcome. There is a need to develop, implement, and test interventions to improve cardiovascular and brain health for…J Am Heart Assoc.
What the studies show
A review that pooled 90 studies following about 2.2 million adults found social isolation linked to a 32% higher relative risk How much more or less likely something is in one group than another, as a ratio. A big relative change can still be a small change for any one person. of death from any cause. Loneliness was linked to a 14% higher relative risk. Isolation was also tied to higher heart disease and cancer deaths1Meta-analysis · 2023 · 2,205,199 peopleA systematic review and meta-analysis of 90 cohort studies of social isolation, loneliness and mortality.038). Greater focus on social isolation and loneliness may help improve people's well-being and mortality risk.Nat Hum Behav.
A review of 35 studies (77,220 people) found loneliness linked to a 22% higher relative risk of death. The link was a little stronger in men than in women, and held after accounting for depression4Meta-analysis · 2018 · 77,220 peopleAssociation of loneliness with all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis.Loneliness shows a harmful effect for all-cause mortality and this effect is slightly stronger in men than in women. Moreover, the impact of loneliness was independent from the quality evaluation of each article and the effect of depression.PLoS One.
A 2025 review of 86 studies in older adults found similar links: isolation 35% higher, living alone 21% higher, loneliness 14% higher. Results for loneliness differed widely between studies5Meta-analysis · 2025Loneliness, social isolation, and living alone: a comprehensive systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of mortality risks in older adults.However, further research is needed due to variability and heterogeneity across studies. Also studying the cumulative effect of these factors on mortality risks will be of considerable interest.Aging Clin Exp Res.
Older reviews agree. One found about 29% higher odds of death with isolation and 26% with loneliness, with stronger links in people under 652Meta-analysis · 2015Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review.Results also differ across participant age, with social deficits being more predictive of death in samples with an average age younger than 65 years. Overall, the influence of both objective and subjective social isolation on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality.Perspect Psychol Sci. Another pooled 148 studies (308,849 people) and found 50% higher odds of survival with stronger relationships3Meta-analysis · 2010 · 308,849 peopleSocial relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review.The influence of social relationships on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.PLoS Med.
A study of 6,500 English adults aged 52 and older, followed about 7 years, found isolation stayed linked to death after accounting for health and background (26% higher relative risk in the most isolated fifth). Loneliness did not, so it could be down to chance7Observational study · 2013 · 6,500 peopleSocial isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women.However, the effect of loneliness was not independent of demographic characteristics or health problems and did not contribute to the risk associated with social isolation. Although both isolation and loneliness impair quality of life and well-being, efforts to reduce isolation are likely to be more relevant to…Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.
In a US study of 2,067 older adults whose isolation decreased, deaths were lower than in those whose isolation grew. Increased isolation was linked to a 29% higher relative risk of death than stable isolation8Observational study · 2024 · 2,067 peopleSocial Isolation Changes and Long-Term Outcomes Among Older Adults.In this cohort study, increased isolation was associated with elevated risks of mortality, disability, and dementia, irrespective of baseline isolation status. These results underscore the importance of interventions targeting the prevention of increased isolation among older adults to mitigate its adverse effects on…JAMA Netw Open.
These figures compare groups, so the gain for one person depends on how high their risk was to begin with. The reviews give relative figures only.
Key studies
Study
Who
What it found
Review of 90 studies, 20231Meta-analysis · 2023 · 2,205,199 peopleA systematic review and meta-analysis of 90 cohort studies of social isolation, loneliness and mortality.038). Greater focus on social isolation and loneliness may help improve people's well-being and mortality risk.Nat Hum Behav
2.2 million adults
Isolation linked to 32% higher death risk; loneliness 14%
Review of 35 studies, 20184Meta-analysis · 2018 · 77,220 peopleAssociation of loneliness with all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis.Loneliness shows a harmful effect for all-cause mortality and this effect is slightly stronger in men than in women. Moreover, the impact of loneliness was independent from the quality evaluation of each article and the effect of depression.PLoS One
77,220 people
Loneliness linked to 22% higher death risk
Review of 86 studies, 20255Meta-analysis · 2025Loneliness, social isolation, and living alone: a comprehensive systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of mortality risks in older adults.However, further research is needed due to variability and heterogeneity across studies. Also studying the cumulative effect of these factors on mortality risks will be of considerable interest.Aging Clin Exp Res
Older adults
Isolation 35%, living alone 21%, loneliness 14% higher
Study following people, 20137Observational study · 2013 · 6,500 peopleSocial isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women.However, the effect of loneliness was not independent of demographic characteristics or health problems and did not contribute to the risk associated with social isolation. Although both isolation and loneliness impair quality of life and well-being, efforts to reduce isolation are likely to be more relevant to…Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
6,500 English adults 52+
Isolation linked to death; loneliness not, after adjustment
Study following people, 20248Observational study · 2024 · 2,067 peopleSocial Isolation Changes and Long-Term Outcomes Among Older Adults.In this cohort study, increased isolation was associated with elevated risks of mortality, disability, and dementia, irrespective of baseline isolation status. These results underscore the importance of interventions targeting the prevention of increased isolation among older adults to mitigate its adverse effects on…JAMA Netw Open
Older US adults
Rising isolation linked to 29% higher death risk
Safety
No treatment is tested here, so no side effects apply.
What we don't know
Whether reducing isolation or loneliness lengthens life. No trials have tested this on heart or brain outcomes6Guideline · 2022Effects of Objective and Perceived Social Isolation on Cardiovascular and Brain Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.Conclusions Social isolation and loneliness are common and appear to be independent risk factors for worse cardiovascular and brain health; however, consistency of the associations varies by outcome. There is a need to develop, implement, and test interventions to improve cardiovascular and brain health for…J Am Heart Assoc.
Why loneliness results vary so much, and whether loneliness matters once isolation and health are counted5Meta-analysis · 2025Loneliness, social isolation, and living alone: a comprehensive systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of mortality risks in older adults.However, further research is needed due to variability and heterogeneity across studies. Also studying the cumulative effect of these factors on mortality risks will be of considerable interest.Aging Clin Exp Res,7Observational study · 2013 · 6,500 peopleSocial isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women.However, the effect of loneliness was not independent of demographic characteristics or health problems and did not contribute to the risk associated with social isolation. Although both isolation and loneliness impair quality of life and well-being, efforts to reduce isolation are likely to be more relevant to…Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.
Written by AI from the studies listed, without review by a clinician, and graded with the GRADE method. It can be wrong, so check the studies it cites. Education, not medical advice.