Having a sense of purpose in life can offer “potent protection” against loneliness, according to the results of a new study.
The study, based on surveys of more than 2,300 Swiss adults, discovered that feelings of loneliness were fewer among respondents who reported having a purposeful life.
“A sense of purpose,” said co-author Patrick Hill, MA, PhD, an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, “is this general perception that you have something leading and directing you from one day to the next. It can be something like gardening, supporting your family, or achieving success at work.”
Hill noted living a purposeful life can stave off loneliness because many activities that provide purpose involve interacting with others. According to the study, people who said they received or provided social support were “especially likely” to report feelings of purpose.
Loneliness poses multiple risks to older adults, according to Hill.
“Loneliness is known to be one of the biggest psychological predictors for health problems, cognitive decline and early mortality,” he said. “Studies show that it can be as harmful for health as smoking or having a poor diet.”
A 2022 study from Harvard and Boston University researchers backs up this claim. That study found that of the 13,000 subjects analyzed, individuals with the highest sense of purpose indicated the lowest risk of death (a 15.2% mortality risk) compared to individuals with the lowest sense of purpose (a 36.5% mortality risk).
Hill’s study found that adults in their 70s and beyond were more likely to report feelings of loneliness, which Hill noted could be because of societal norms that dictate how they are expected to behave.
“We’re trying to dispel the myth from previous generations that this is simply a time for retiring and resting,” he said. “There are no downsides to finding something meaningful later in life.”
Hill also stressed that purpose can be derived from anything — no matter big or small.
“It’s OK if someone else thinks that your purpose is trivial, as long as it’s meaningful to you,” he said.
Other authors of the study were Mathias Allemand of the University of Zurich in Switzerland and Gabriel Olaru of Tilburg University in the Netherlands.
Findings appear in the journal Psychology and Aging.
In a 2021 study by Edward Jones and Age Wave, 92% of participating retirees said that having purpose is key to a successful retirement.
Respondents reported deriving purpose from family and friends, with 67% of retirees indicating that spending time with loved ones provides the greatest source of meaning, purpose and fulfillment. In addition, 93% of retirees said it is important to feel useful in retirement.
