A recent study proposes that having a sense of purpose in life can act as a robust defense against feelings of loneliness.
The purpose in life can be anything from grand aspirations to simple personal hobbies, as long as they carry significant meaning for the individual.
Impact of Loneliness on Health
According to Patrick Hill, an Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences and co-author of the study, loneliness is a significant psychological predictor of health issues, cognitive decline, and premature mortality.
Its impact on health can be as severe as poor diet or smoking habits.
The Study on Loneliness and Purpose
The study, which surveyed over 2,300 adults in Switzerland, was co-authored by Mathias Allemand of the University of Zurich and Gabriel Olaru of Tilburg University in the Netherlands.
It revealed that people with a clear sense of purpose in life experienced fewer feelings of loneliness, regardless of their age.
The survey participants were asked to gauge their feelings of loneliness, lack of companionship, isolation, and being overlooked during a four-week period.
They also filled out the six-item Life Engagement Test, which assessed their sense of purpose in life.
Defining Sense of Purpose
Hill defines a sense of purpose as a perception that there is something meaningful guiding you from one day to the next.
It can manifest as a personal hobby like gardening, supporting your family, or striving for success at work.
Many activities that instill a sense of purpose, such as joining clubs, volunteering, or participating in sports leagues, involve social interactions.
These interactions may be one reason why people with purposeful lives tend to feel less lonely.
However, Hill notes that combating loneliness goes beyond merely being around others, emphasizing that a sense of purpose seems to combat loneliness, irrespective of the number of people involved.
Aging, Loneliness, and Purpose
The study found a slight increase in reports of loneliness in individuals in their 70s and beyond, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a sense of purpose in later life.
Hill insists that the age-old belief that retirement is merely a time for resting should be discarded. He argues that there are no downsides to finding meaningful engagement later in life.
Caution on the Quest for Purpose
Hill also warns against taking the search for purpose too far. Extreme pressure to find a profound purpose can lead to existential anxiety and distress.
He suggests that even minor things can carry a significant purpose and that it is okay for your purpose to seem trivial to others, as long as it is meaningful to you.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
The study was published in Psychology and Aging.
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