A recent study highlights the increased risk of loneliness faced by retirees who move abroad. The research emphasizes the importance of social support systems in combating emotional and social loneliness among older adults.
Many people dream of spending their golden years in a sunny, more affordable country. However, new research published by the American Psychological Association indicates that retirees who move abroad may face higher risks of loneliness compared to those who stay in their home country.
“International retirement migration is increasingly popular in Europe and around the world. On social media, you see all the people in Europe sunbathing in Spain, American retirees are moving to Mexico and Japanese retirees to Malaysia,” lead author Esma Betül Savaş, of the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographics Institute, said in a news release. “Although these retirement migrants generally report being happy, they may still face struggles adapting to a new country.”
The study, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, involved a survey of 4,995 Dutch retirees living abroad and a comparison group consisting of 1,338 Dutch retirees who chose to remain in the Netherlands.
The participants were asked about their feelings of loneliness and their relationships with family, friends and neighbors both back home and in their new countries.
The research examined two key aspects of loneliness: emotional loneliness, which stems from the absence of close friends or a partner, and social loneliness, which results from a lack of a broader social network or community.
The findings revealed that retirement migrants experienced higher levels of social loneliness compared to their counterparts who stayed in their home country. This was despite the fact that the retirement migrants generally had higher socioeconomic status and better health than the non-migrant retirees — factors typically associated with lower levels of loneliness.
Interestingly, the study found no significant difference in emotional loneliness between the two groups. This outcome may be explained by the fact that many retirees move abroad with a spouse or partner, providing them with close companionship.
However, those retirees who reported losing contact with close friends and family from their home country experienced higher levels of both social and emotional loneliness. In contrast, participants who maintained frequent contact with their neighbors and felt a strong sense of belonging in their new country were less likely to feel socially lonely.
“Older adults may face double jeopardy in retiring to a new country as they are vulnerable to both age-related and migration-related risk factors for loneliness, and loneliness is itself a risk factor for adverse health outcomes,” Savaş added. “It’s important for people considering retirement migration to think about how they can maintain their social ties in their origin country and make new ones in their destination country.”
This research highlights the importance of robust social support systems for retirees contemplating international moves. As the trend of international retirement migration continues to grow, it becomes increasingly vital for prospective migrants to weigh the potential emotional and social challenges alongside the allure of a new locale.
Source: American Psychological Association