Loneliness is often seen as an "old people" problem, something that affects us much later in life. But data published last month shows that single women are disproportionately affected by this little-discussed issue. Researchers found that loneliness follows a U-shaped pattern: there's an uptick at the start and end of adulthood, but it drops during middle age, when many of us are preoccupied with families, relationships and career building.
But for single women who don't follow this trend, self-reported loneliness is disproportionately high. I fit squarely into this category and I have definitely felt lonely over the years. It's hardly surprising when you look at the realities of being a single woman today.
Women in big cities are now being advised to move elsewhere to find a suitable partner or affordable housing. Having children is becoming increasingly out of reach for those who aren't wealthy, and any form of socialising in our post-pandemic, high-cost-of-living economy feels like a luxury. For those of us who are single by choice, who don't want kids and don't date, the constant gendered expectations of what life should like look by a certain point can feel relentless and isolating – and often come at the expense of community.
The latest research echoes findings by the Campaign to End Loneliness, which found that women are more likely to be chronically lonely than men, and that 16- to 29-year-olds are twice as likely to be chronically lonely than those who are over 70.