Daijiworld Media Network - Sydney

Sydney, Apr 7: A landmark study released today has established, for the first time, a causal relationship between persistent loneliness and an increased risk of early death among middle-aged women in Australia.

Researchers meticulously analyzed two decades' worth of data from the extensive Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health, encompassing the experiences of over 57,000 participants.

The compelling findings, derived from an examination of data from women aged between 48 and 55, revealed that those who consistently reported feelings of loneliness over a 15-year period were alarmingly three times more likely to experience premature death compared to their counterparts who did not report such feelings.

According to the research team from the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, and Western Sydney University, women who did not experience persistent loneliness had a 5% risk of death, whereas this risk escalated significantly to 15% among those grappling with ongoing feelings of isolation, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

"Loneliness is a risk factor that should be routinely assessed by healthcare professionals, in the same way we screen for conditions like high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol. Furthermore, there is a crucial need to enhance public understanding of loneliness to demystify and destigmatize this significant health concern," emphasized the study's lead author, Neta HaGani.

Professor Melody Ding from the University of Sydney, the senior author of the study, highlighted that women in middle age are often burdened with the dual responsibilities of primary caregivers for both young children and aging parents. This period also frequently coincides with significant life transitions such as menopause, retirement, or children leaving home, all of which can contribute to heightened social isolation.

The study, published in the esteemed journal BMJ Medicine, also identified a dose-dependent relationship, indicating that the more frequently loneliness was reported by participants, the correspondingly higher their risk of early mortality.

While comparable long-term data focusing on men's health in this context is currently limited, Professor Ding suggested that midlife represents a period of transition that may disproportionately and negatively impact women.