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The study included more than 277,000 people and showed that men who suffer from both loneliness and social isolation may lose about 5.8 years of mental disorder-free life expectancy, compared to 3.7 years for women.
The researchers relied on data from 277,489 participants in the UK Biobank, aged between 40 and 69 at the start of the study.
The researchers analyzed the relationship between feelings of loneliness, the level of social connection, and the number of expected years individuals could live without major physical illnesses or mental disorders.
The results showed that the combination of loneliness and social isolation was associated with a significant decrease in years of life free from depression and anxiety, with a greater association recorded in men.
As for major physical illnesses, the difference was smaller, amounting to about 1.7 years for men and 2.4 years for women.
The study was published in the scientific journal "Nature Communications" in August 2026.
The study did not provide a definitive explanation for the difference between men and women, but it opens the door to hypotheses related to the nature of social relationships and emotional support networks.
Some men may rely on a limited number of people for psychological support, while some women possess more diverse social networks, which may provide them with additional sources of support when one relationship declines.
When these ties shrink, some men may become more vulnerable to losing social and emotional support.
However, these explanations remain potential hypotheses and not proven findings in the study, and the observed differences do not mean that women are less affected by loneliness in all circumstances.
Although the concepts are related, loneliness and social isolation do not mean the same thing.
Therefore, a person may live alone without feeling lonely, while another may feel lonely despite having a wide network of acquaintances.
The study's results indicate that the combination of feelings of loneliness and limited social interaction is associated with worse health outcomes, especially regarding expected years free from depression and anxiety.
However, the results did not prove that these habits compensate for the effects associated with the feeling of loneliness itself.
This means that paying attention to physical health remains important, but it may not be enough on its own, as human connection and receiving emotional support can be essential elements in promoting mental health.
Useful steps may include maintaining regular contact with friends and family, participating in group activities, and building relationships that provide a sense of belonging and mutual support.
It is important to distinguish between a shorter lifespan and the loss of years of life free from mental disorders.
The study does not mean that a man suffering from loneliness will die about six years earlier than others, but rather points to a decrease in the expected years lived without depression or anxiety, compared to what might be expected under other circumstances.
The study is also observational, meaning it reveals statistical associations and does not prove that loneliness and isolation directly cause these results.
Nevertheless, the findings highlight the importance of social relationships as an aspect worthy of attention when planning for health prevention; human connection is not limited to entertainment, but may also be linked to maintaining mental health and quality of life as one ages.
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