Researchers from Kyemyong University in South Korea explored how persistent loneliness can shape a person’s personality over time. The findings appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Personality and Individual Differences, a publication that has long guided scholars in understanding how personality traits develop and change across the lifespan.
To illuminate these patterns, the team analyzed data from a major U.S. study that follows adults aged 50 and older. The dataset included information from 9,671 participants collected in 2012, 2021, and 2020, creating a robust timeline to observe how loneliness and personality interact as people age. While the analysis was intricate, a clear message emerged: loneliness is linked to slower growth or declines in key social and behavioral traits that guide everyday life. These traits include sociability and openness to new experiences, the capacity to form and maintain close relationships, and the diligence that shapes daily routines and responsibilities.
The researchers used an advanced statistical framework to discern how loneliness and personality influence each other over time. This approach allowed them to separate the direction of effects and to see which factors act as both predictors and outcomes in the loneliness–personality loop. The upshot is that lonely feelings can erode social vitality, cooperative tendencies, and conscientious behavior, potentially setting someone on a path toward fewer social opportunities and less consistent daily structure.
Beyond loneliness, negative emotional states emerged as a significant piece of the puzzle. A tendency to experience negative emotions, such as sadness or irritability, can both amplify loneliness and magnify tendencies toward neuroticism. In practical terms, this creates a feedback cycle: feeling down raises the risk of loneliness, and loneliness, in turn, increases the likelihood of future negative mood. This cycle underscores the importance of emotional well-being as a stabilizer for personality during midlife and older adulthood.
Looking ahead, the authors suggest pursuing intervention studies that test strategies to reduce loneliness and support positive personality development. Possible approaches might include community-based programs, social engagement initiatives, and targeted mental health resources designed to help individuals foster resilience, richer social connections, and consistent daily routines. Such work would help translate these insights into actionable steps for people navigating midlife and older age in North America and beyond.
Earlier research has also highlighted practical avenues for offsetting loneliness. For instance, regular physical activity, even when modest, has been associated with improvements in mood and a sense of social connectedness. Walking groups, community exercise classes, and structured outdoor activities can provide social opportunities while delivering the physical benefits that accompany a more active lifestyle. The cumulative effect of these behaviors may help mitigate some of the negative trajectories identified in the study, supporting both mental health and everyday functioning. [Citation: Longitudinal Health and Retirement Study, 2012–2021 cohort analyses and related literature]