The authors, researchers from Ministry of Health in Singapore and various universities, presents an analysis on the influence of loneliness and social isolation on all-cause mortality. They utilise data from a longitudinal survey, conducted in 2009 and 2011-2012, on the physical, mental and social well-being of older non-institutionalised Singaporeans over a course of four years. The authors identify that the probability of death has strong links with loneliness and debunk its interrelationship with living arrangements and social networks with non-household members. Loneliness increased the risk of death by 44.0% among those sometimes lonely and by 39.0% for those mostly lonely. However, the lack of information on the quality of the relationships between the survey participants and their family, relatives and friends weakens their argument that living arrangements and social networks outside households are irrelevant factors to consider. This article also discussed possible ways the family and government can help these matured adults. This article is useful for my research as it addresses loneliness as an emerging health concern which is a large part of successful ageing.
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