Evidence base
AARP Public Policy Institute
Disconnected: The Escalating Challenge of Loneliness Among Adults 45-Plus
What it found
This AARP Public Policy Institute survey follows earlier waves studying loneliness among adults aged 45 and older, and finds loneliness has risen in this population since the prior 2018 survey. Because the survey instrument was kept consistent across waves, the 2025 results are directly comparable to the 2018 baseline.
Why it matters for practice
Trend comparability is unusual in loneliness research, where instruments often change between studies and undermine claims about change over time. That makes this a useful reference point for programme managers and funders tracking whether loneliness in the 45-plus population is worsening, though the findings supplied here describe direction of change only, not magnitude or cause.