Losing A Spouse Leaves Loneliness That Family Ties Can’t Fix

A new study from the University of Siegen in Germany reveals that losing a spouse leads to enduring emotional loneliness for both men and women, lasting at least 7 years. Social loneliness, on the other hand, increases gradually and predominantly affects men. While mothers experienced slight improvements in contact frequency and emotional closeness with adult children after widowhood, fathers reported no significant changes in their relationships. The research, based on 25 years of data, underscores the limited capacity of parent-child relationships to alleviate the deep loneliness following spousal loss. The study suggests that broader social interventions may be necessary to address the loneliness epidemic among older adults. (Studyfinds)