Katharina Buczek
Still, Hill detailed how just being with other people is not a cure for fighting loneliness. Instead, it is common for most individuals to remember a time when they felt lonely despite being surrounded by colleagues, friends, or family.
However, through this study, the findings suggest that having a sense of purpose helps fight loneliness from the core– no matter how many other individuals are actually involved.
It was revealed that among people aged 70 and up, loneliness did slightly increase. Hill believes this is a commonality that’s important to fight in older age.
“We’re trying to dispel the myth from previous generations that this is simply a time for retiring and resting. There are no downsides to finding something meaningful later in life,” he details.
It is crucial to remember, though, that relentlessly searching for a life purpose can be exhausting– especially if individuals take the quest too seriously. People must keep in mind that they do not need to save the world. This immense stress can result in existential dread and anxiety.
Instead, a sense of purpose can and should be different for everyone, no matter how small or trivial it may seem. The only thing that matters is that your life purpose is personally meaningful and worthwhile to you.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have been published in Psychology and Aging, visit the link here.
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