A study by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan reveals that direct, face-to-face interaction significantly reduces feelings of loneliness among older adults. In contrast, communication methods like phone calls, emails, or texts are less effective in alleviating loneliness.
The results, published today in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B Psychological Science, have important implications for the mental and emotional health of numerous elderly individuals.
“Our interest was to explore how older adults respond to loneliness and the impact of various forms of social interaction on their feelings of loneliness,” explained Shiyang Zhang, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow specializing in human development and family sciences at UT. “Our findings indicated that when older adults experience loneliness, they tend to make phone calls. However, only face-to-face interactions resulted in lower reported levels of loneliness.
Researchers have long recognized that consistent social interaction is vital for both mental and physical well-being, and it plays a significant role in promoting longevity during older age. Loneliness has been associated with serious health issues, including heart disease, cognitive decline, and even early mortality. Despite many older adults often dealing with chronic health issues and reduced mobility, the study highlights that in-person contact is crucial for addressing loneliness among the elderly.
This research took place in the Austin, Texas area in 2016 and 2017, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to an increase in digital communication and heightened isolation for many seniors. Yet, even post-pandemic, a significant number of older adults do not own smartphones or use the internet. The study tracked over 300 individuals aged 65 and older, collecting data every three waking hours regarding their levels of loneliness and types of social interaction, including in-person, phone, or digital communication (defined as texting or social media connections).
The research also investigated the nature of the social ties, whether strong or weak. It was found that when feeling lonely, older adults were more inclined to contact their close friends and family. Interestingly, face-to-face interaction—even with acquaintances—was more effective in reducing feelings of loneliness than a phone conversation with close family or friends.
“While phone communication is accessible most of the time and allows older adults to make social connections when feeling lonely, it seems that it doesn’t alleviate loneliness to the same extent as in-person interactions do,” Zhang noted. “Phone and digital communications lack the emotional warmth and comfort provided by face-to-face engagement; they just can’t replace it.”
Other authors of the paper include Karen Fingerman, who holds the Sonia Wolf Wilson Regents Administrative Professorship in Human Ecology at UT’s Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, graduate student Zexi Zhou from UT, and Kira S. Birditt from the University of Michigan. The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging, UT’s Center on Aging and Population Sciences, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
