Loneliness is often thought of as an emotional struggle, but new research shows it may also take a toll on the body.
A large international study led by researchers at City St George’s, University of London, found that people who feel lonely are more than twice as likely to experience physical pain compared with those who do not.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed responses from over 256,000 people aged 15 to 100 across 139 countries, collected in the Gallup World Poll in 2023 and 2024.
The findings revealed that loneliness was linked not only to pain but also to poorer overall health and psychological distress.
In fact, people who reported being lonely were nearly twice as likely to say they had health problems and 25% more likely to report distress.
Researchers discovered that psychological distress played the biggest role in explaining the link between loneliness and pain, accounting for more than 60% of the connection.
Health problems explained around 19%, while social and demographic factors such as education, income, and support networks explained about 14%.
The study also showed that lonely individuals were more likely to have only basic education, to be unemployed or underemployed, and to have lower incomes.
They were also more likely to be single, separated, divorced, or widowed. These patterns suggest that loneliness often overlaps with economic and social disadvantage.
Importantly, the association between loneliness and pain was seen across all ages and in every region of the world.
Older people were more likely to report loneliness, pain, and health problems overall, but the link between loneliness and pain was consistent no matter the age. Women, however, were found to experience stronger effects than men.
One striking finding was that loneliness persisted even among people who said they had friends or relatives they could rely on or who were satisfied with their chances to meet others.
This suggests loneliness is not simply about being alone or lacking contact—it is also about how people feel and perceive their relationships.
Rates of loneliness varied widely across countries, and while some of the poorest countries showed the highest levels of loneliness, pain, and distress, the trends did not always follow patterns of wealth or development.
The researchers argue that cultural norms and social expectations play a big role in how loneliness is experienced.
“Loneliness is not just about missing social contact,” said lead author Dr. Lucía Macchia. “It is linked with psychological distress, poor health, and social disadvantage, and it varies across cultural settings.
Addressing loneliness means addressing all of these factors together.”
The researchers conclude that loneliness should be seen as a global health challenge. Tackling it effectively will require more than just building social networks—it will also mean reducing distress and inequality to improve overall well-being.
