Study: People of different generations are lonely for different reasons

They compared the results between people in midlife - from 45 to 69 years old - and those in their 70s, the study noted. The findings revealed similar levels of loneliness in both groups. According to the study, people with a strong capacity to maintain emotional balance under stressful circumstances were 60 per cent less likely to be lonely on average, regardless of their age. Middle-aged people, who were more extroverted, were on average, 55 per cent less likely to be lonely, the researchers reported in the study.

They said social isolation was not significantly associated with loneliness in the 45 to 69 age group, and people over 70 who lived alone were more than four times more likely to feel lonely than those who lived with company. According to the researchers, the study helps understand the origins of loneliness in different generations. "The use of machine learning in this study allows us to identify and replicate differences in what risk factors are linked to loneliness in middle and older age people," said study co-author Drew Altschul from the University of Edinburgh.

"Loneliness is a growing public health issue, identifying the things that precede loneliness is difficult, however, contemporary machine learning algorithms are positioned to help identify these predictors," Altschul said.

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