Socioeconomic status as a risk factor for loneliness

How socioeconomic factors influence loneliness

Loneliness and social isolation are now widely recognised as serious health concerns for older people in the UK. While these experiences are often thought of as personal or emotional, they are both connected to wider social and economic factors; income, education, housing, and work opportunities all play a role in older people’s ability to stay connected with others and their communities.

Income, education, and financial strain

Research shows that people on lower incomes or with fewer educational opportunities are at a higher risk of loneliness and social isolation than those on higher incomes or with higher level qualifications. Researchers have also found that this continues into later life, with older people who are experiencing financial strain or living in poor quality housing reporting higher levels of loneliness and isolation.

A changing financial landscape for older people

The financial picture for older people is changing. Since 2000 the proportion of the UK population working beyond the age of 65 has doubled to 11.5%, and an estimated 3% of people aged 75 and over are still working. This is partly because more people are living longer and remaining active for longer, but also due to changes to the state pension age and low pension incomes.

Statistics show that 8% of pensioners are unable to afford the essentials and more retirees are living in privately rented homes, with the number predicted to treble by 2041.

Where you live matters

Area-level factors also play a role, with older people living in more deprived areas being at greater risk of loneliness and isolation, as well as poor health (which itself increases the risk of experiencing loneliness).

In rural communities, financial struggles, health and mobility issues, and sparse populations can make it harder to maintain social connections, especially if local transportation is lacking.

Our data shows that older people living in largely rural areas feel lonely more often than those living in more urban locations. Older people supported by Re-engage in rural areas tend to be older on average and more likely to be living with long-term health conditions.

Gaps in current research

It's important to note that there are still gaps in our understanding of the connections between socioeconomic factors and loneliness and/or social isolation. Research drawing on large national datasets may underrepresent certain groups; researchers may measure loneliness in different ways, making it harder to compare or group results across various studies.

While it is clear that low income and limited resources increase the risk of loneliness, more research is needed to understand how disadvantages, like poor housing, lack of transport, digital exclusion, or fewer community services increase that risk.