A recent study from the University of York and Sheffield Hallam University has uncovered striking differences in how loneliness affects older men and women in England. The research, which examined data from nearly 7,000 respondents aged 50 and over, revealed that older men are less likely than women to admit feeling lonely but are more prone to turning to alcohol when they do.

The study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, utilised the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) to explore sex differences in loneliness and its related factors. One of the key findings was that older men are more reluctant to acknowledge loneliness directly. Even when their scores on an indirect measure of loneliness – the University of California Loneliness Scale (UCLS) – were similar to those of women, men were still significantly less likely to report feeling lonely in response to a direct question.

This reluctance may be rooted in societal norms surrounding masculinity, where admitting loneliness is often seen as a sign of vulnerability. The study’s authors suggest that cultural ideals of masculinity, which emphasise self-reliance and emotional restraint, might discourage men from openly expressing feelings of loneliness.

Interestingly, the study also found that men who did report feeling lonely were more likely to consume higher amounts of alcohol, particularly when their loneliness was measured over the past week. This connection between loneliness and alcohol use was more pronounced in men than in women, highlighting a concerning trend where older men may use alcohol as a coping mechanism for loneliness.

In terms of social relationships, the study discovered that older men who were not cohabiting with a partner were lonelier than their female counterparts. But the impact of social isolation appeared to be less severe for men than for women. Despite having poorer overall social relationships, men were less affected by severe social isolation or the lack of close relationships when it came to reporting loneliness.

The researchers also noted that the quality of friendships played a crucial role in mediating loneliness among men. Older men with better perceptions of their friendships were less likely to feel lonely, even if they were socially isolated or not living with a partner. This finding underscores the importance of fostering strong social connections, particularly in older age.

These findings have significant implications for public health interventions aimed at reducing loneliness among older adults. The study suggests that strategies to address loneliness in men may need to be different from those targeting women. For instance, encouraging men to form and maintain quality friendships could be more effective than focusing solely on increasing social interaction or reducing isolation.

Also, the link between loneliness and alcohol consumption in men indicates a need for targeted interventions that address this specific risk factor. Public health campaigns could benefit from addressing the stigma surrounding loneliness in men and promoting healthier coping mechanisms.