Overview

Defining loneliness

The definition of loneliness that we use is: 

Loneliness is ‘a subjective, unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship. It happens when there is a mismatch between the quantity and quality of the social relationships that we have, and those that we want’ 

This definition draws on Perlman and Peplau’s understanding of loneliness. They use the cognitive deficit model, which views loneliness as ‘a discrepancy between one’s desired and achieved levels of social relations’ [4]. This perspective emphasises the significance of desired versus actual social connections, so it helps us distinguish loneliness from social isolation.

We therefore understand loneliness as an emotional experience: a perceived deficiency in the amount and/or quality of someone’s existing relationships.

Types of loneliness

There are different types of loneliness. The following three are the most commonly identified in evidence and literature on loneliness [5]:

• Emotional loneliness – ‘the absence of meaningful relationships’
• Social loneliness – a ‘perceived deficit in the quality of social connections’
• Existential loneliness – a ‘feeling of fundamental separateness from others and the wider world’

Other types of loneliness can include: 

• Transient loneliness – a feeling that comes and goes
• Situational loneliness – only occurring at certain times like Sundays, bank holidays or Christmas
• Chronic loneliness – feeling lonely all or most of the time

Social isolation

Loneliness is linked to social isolation but it is not the same thing. While loneliness is an emotional experience, isolation is a lack of social contact. 

Loneliness is a subjective feeling, whereas isolation is an objective state. Social isolation is about the ‘level and frequency of one’s social interactions’ [6]. It is defined as ‘having few social relationships or infrequent social contact with others’ [7]. 

Feeling lonely is not necessarily the same as being alone. Some people can spend lots of their time on their own and still feel content. Others may be surrounded by people but feel disconnected from them and lonely.

What Works Centre for Wellbeing

Loneliness and mental health

Loneliness is not a mental health problem in itself. However, loneliness and poor mental health are interlinked, each can worsen the other [8] and as such, they are closely interlinked. Meanwhile, social connectedness is associated with better mental health [9].

Poor mental health can lead to loneliness [10]. On the other hand, loneliness can negatively impact mental health [10; 11]. In our Psychology of Loneliness report, we discuss how loneliness and mental health can affect each other, as well as psychological approaches that can help alleviate loneliness. 

As well as impacting our mental health, loneliness can affect our physical health. You can read more about the health impacts of loneliness.

Experiencing loneliness

Loneliness is a negative emotional experience [12]. It indicates an unmet need for social connection. People who are lonely might experience unwelcome feelings of isolation, sadness, and disconnection.

According to the UK government’s Tackling Loneliness strategy review, reported loneliness is higher for people who [13]:

• are 16-24 years old
• are female
• are single or widowed
• live with a limiting mental health condition
• are renting
• have lower neighbourhood belonging 
• have lower local social trust

Experiences of loneliness can differ in their intensity. This can change from moment to moment, over different durations of time, and in different contexts. 

Loneliness in the workplace is still quite under-researched, but is important to consider given the amount of time people spend at work. A recent study found that [14]: 

• Around 1 in 10 workers feel lonely at work often or always, and nearly half experience loneliness at work some of the time 
• Recent changes to working patterns means that 19% of workers now work from home, and 24% are hybrid working. But this doesn’t seem to have exacerbated loneliness. Changes in working location during the covid-19 pandemic led to improved relationships for many.
• There is little evidence to suggest that more contact with colleagues leads to less loneliness at work, as loneliness is subjective and distinct from isolation.

Certain factors can increase our risk of loneliness. These include personal characteristics like age, ethnicity, or disability, and circumstances like living alone, going through significant life changes, or living in certain areas. Read more about the risk factors for loneliness.

Impacts of loneliness

We can all feel lonely sometimes. But prolonged and/or intense experiences of loneliness can have negative impacts on our lives. It can affect our health and wellbeing:

• Loneliness can increase the risk of early mortality by 26% [15]. 
• Loneliness can put people at greater risk of poorer mental health, including depression [16].
• There appears to be an association between mental wellbeing and loneliness: research estimates that 60% of people experiencing chronic loneliness experience mental distress, compared to 15% of people who are not chronically lonely [17].
• 62% of lonely young people say that ‘feeling lonely makes them lose confidence in themselves’ [18].
• Research shows that loneliness is associated with elevated blood pressure and acute stress responses [19].
• Loneliness is associated with ‘poorer sleep quality’ in young adults [20] and ‘sleep inadequacy and dissatisfaction’ in the general population [21].

And it can also impact our engagement with education and employment: 

• Loneliness in early adolescence is associated with lower educational attainment [22].
• 48% of lonely young people say that feeling lonely makes them ‘less likely to want to progress in work’ [18].
• Higher loneliness levels among employees is associated with poorer work performance [3]. 
• A recent study estimates the cost of severe loneliness at around £9,900 per person per year, due to its combined impact on wellbeing, health, and work productivity [23].
• It has been estimated that loneliness costs UK employers £2.5 billion a year, due to its impact on employee sickness, caring activity, productivity, and voluntary staff turnover [24].

You can read more about the health impacts of loneliness and the cost of loneliness to our workplaces and economy.