Human First

Strong evidence

Is loneliness bad for your health?

Is loneliness a health risk, or just an unpleasant feeling?

Bottom line

After adjusting for other factors, loneliness was linked to a 26% higher likelihood of death, social isolation to 29% and living alone to 32%1. Feeling lonely and being objectively isolated carried similar risk2.

A meta-analysis of studies published between 1980 and 2014 looked at three related things: feeling lonely, being socially isolated, and living alone. In studies that controlled for several possible confounding factors, each was linked to a higher likelihood of death: 26% for loneliness, 29% for social isolation and 32% for living alone1.

It made no difference whether isolation was measured objectively, such as how few contacts someone had, or subjectively, as how isolated someone felt2. That matters, because a person can be surrounded by people and still feel alone.

The results were consistent across gender, length of follow-up and world region. The links were stronger in samples with an average age under 65, which challenges the idea that this is only a problem of old age3.

The authors concluded that the mortality risk of social isolation and loneliness is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality4. An earlier meta-analysis reached the same conclusion about the protective side: stronger relationships go with better survival5.

What this does not show

  • These are observational studies. They show that loneliness and isolation predict earlier death, not exactly how or why.
  • The authors report that initial health status influenced the findings, so poor health may partly explain both isolation and earlier death.

Claims and sources

  1. Across studies that statistically controlled for several possible confounds, weighted average effect sizes were OR 1.29 for social isolation, 1.26 for loneliness and 1.32 for living alone, corresponding to 29%, 26% and 32% increased likelihood of mortality.

    Research finding Strong evidence

    • Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, et al. (2015). Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality. Perspectives on Psychological Science. doi:10.1177/1745691614568352

  2. The meta-analysis found no differences between measures of objective and subjective social isolation.

    Research finding Strong evidence

    • Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, et al. (2015). Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality. Perspectives on Psychological Science. doi:10.1177/1745691614568352

  3. Results were consistent across gender, length of follow-up and world region; social deficits were more predictive of death in samples with an average age younger than 65.

    Research finding Strong evidence

    • Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, et al. (2015). Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality. Perspectives on Psychological Science. doi:10.1177/1745691614568352

  4. The authors concluded that the influence of both objective and subjective social isolation on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality.

    Research finding Strong evidence

    • Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, et al. (2015). Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality. Perspectives on Psychological Science. doi:10.1177/1745691614568352

  5. A 2010 meta-analysis of 148 studies found a 50% increased likelihood of survival for people with stronger social relationships.

    Research finding Strong evidence

Version 1. First published , updated . Approved by The Human First editors on . Sources last verified 2026-10-24. Machine-readable version.