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Planning To Retire Abroad? This May Not Be The Best Idea, Finds Study
Credits: Canva
Everyone likes when their hard work pays off. Years of service is usually awarded by foreign trips or retiring abroad. This is the life when you transition to a life of non-work activities, whether it is travelling, diving into personal projects or even learning or new language. However, while all these plans to do all this in an affordable country seem like a great warm experience, it may have its downside: loneliness.
A latest study published in Psychology and Aging, titled Trouble In Paradise? Emotional and Social Loneliness Among International Retirement Migrants, suggests that retirees who move abroad often experience a greater social isolation than those who say in their home state.
How Was The Research Conducted?
The researchers compared nearly 5,000 Dutch retirees living abroad to more than 1,300 who stayed in Netherlands. The study found that retirees who moved overseas were socially isolated and even though they were also often healthier and wealthier than the ones who stayed back.
The lead author of the study, Esma Betül Savaş, who is also a doctoral researcher at 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."
How Does Social Loneliness Occur?
This happens when you have a lack of broad circle of friends, whereas emotional loneliness is tied to lack of close friends and partners. You may have tons of friends, but no one to share deep thoughts with.
However, those who stayed back stayed connected with their friends and family back home, in fact, some of them were able to strengthen their relationships after retirement. However, there was also another group of retirees, those who built strong relationships in their new country and felt less isolated.
Researchers also found that those who engaged with their neighbors and felt a sense of belonging in their new home had lower levels of social loneliness. “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 said.
“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,” she concluded.
ALSO READ: How Old Are Your Organs? New Study Links Organ Aging to Disease Risk
What Can Social Loneliness Do At An Older Age?
As per the National Institute on Aging, social isolation and loneliness may be bad for brain health. These have been linked to poorer cognitive function and higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, little social activity and being alone also makes it more difficult to perform everyday tasks such as driving, paying bills, taking medicines, and cooking.
It could lead to:
- Loss of mobility
- Vision or hearing problems
- Psychological or cognitive challenges
- Feeling a lack of purpose
- Financial struggles
- Living alone
- Lack of transportation
- Inability to leave home without help
Purple Day Of Epilepsy 2025: History, Significance, And Importance
Credits: Canva
Everyone likes when their hard work pays off. Years of service is usually awarded by foreign trips or retiring abroad. This is the life when you transition to a life of non-work activities, whether it is travelling, diving into personal projects or even learning or new language. However, while all these plans to do all this in an affordable country seem like a great warm experience, it may have its downside: loneliness.
A latest study published in Psychology and Aging, titled Trouble In Paradise? Emotional and Social Loneliness Among International Retirement Migrants, suggests that retirees who move abroad often experience a greater social isolation than those who say in their home state.
How Was The Research Conducted?
The researchers compared nearly 5,000 Dutch retirees living abroad to more than 1,300 who stayed in Netherlands. The study found that retirees who moved overseas were socially isolated and even though they were also often healthier and wealthier than the ones who stayed back.
The lead author of the study, Esma Betül Savaş, who is also a doctoral researcher at 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."
How Does Social Loneliness Occur?
This happens when you have a lack of broad circle of friends, whereas emotional loneliness is tied to lack of close friends and partners. You may have tons of friends, but no one to share deep thoughts with.
However, those who stayed back stayed connected with their friends and family back home, in fact, some of them were able to strengthen their relationships after retirement. However, there was also another group of retirees, those who built strong relationships in their new country and felt less isolated.
Researchers also found that those who engaged with their neighbors and felt a sense of belonging in their new home had lower levels of social loneliness. “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 said.
“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,” she concluded.
ALSO READ: How Old Are Your Organs? New Study Links Organ Aging to Disease Risk
What Can Social Loneliness Do At An Older Age?
As per the National Institute on Aging, social isolation and loneliness may be bad for brain health. These have been linked to poorer cognitive function and higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, little social activity and being alone also makes it more difficult to perform everyday tasks such as driving, paying bills, taking medicines, and cooking.
It could lead to:
- Loss of mobility
- Vision or hearing problems
- Psychological or cognitive challenges
- Feeling a lack of purpose
- Financial struggles
- Living alone
- Lack of transportation
- Inability to leave home without help
What Is Asphyxiation From Food Intoxication? The Condition That May Have Caused Brett Gardner’s Teen Son’s Death
Image Credits: New York Yankees
Everyone likes when their hard work pays off. Years of service is usually awarded by foreign trips or retiring abroad. This is the life when you transition to a life of non-work activities, whether it is travelling, diving into personal projects or even learning or new language. However, while all these plans to do all this in an affordable country seem like a great warm experience, it may have its downside: loneliness.
A latest study published in Psychology and Aging, titled Trouble In Paradise? Emotional and Social Loneliness Among International Retirement Migrants, suggests that retirees who move abroad often experience a greater social isolation than those who say in their home state.
How Was The Research Conducted?
The researchers compared nearly 5,000 Dutch retirees living abroad to more than 1,300 who stayed in Netherlands. The study found that retirees who moved overseas were socially isolated and even though they were also often healthier and wealthier than the ones who stayed back.
The lead author of the study, Esma Betül Savaş, who is also a doctoral researcher at 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."
How Does Social Loneliness Occur?
This happens when you have a lack of broad circle of friends, whereas emotional loneliness is tied to lack of close friends and partners. You may have tons of friends, but no one to share deep thoughts with.
However, those who stayed back stayed connected with their friends and family back home, in fact, some of them were able to strengthen their relationships after retirement. However, there was also another group of retirees, those who built strong relationships in their new country and felt less isolated.
Researchers also found that those who engaged with their neighbors and felt a sense of belonging in their new home had lower levels of social loneliness. “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 said.
“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,” she concluded.
ALSO READ: How Old Are Your Organs? New Study Links Organ Aging to Disease Risk
What Can Social Loneliness Do At An Older Age?
As per the National Institute on Aging, social isolation and loneliness may be bad for brain health. These have been linked to poorer cognitive function and higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, little social activity and being alone also makes it more difficult to perform everyday tasks such as driving, paying bills, taking medicines, and cooking.
It could lead to:
- Loss of mobility
- Vision or hearing problems
- Psychological or cognitive challenges
- Feeling a lack of purpose
- Financial struggles
- Living alone
- Lack of transportation
- Inability to leave home without help
Trump Administration Cuts LGBTQ Health Research Grants: What It Means
Credits: Canva
Everyone likes when their hard work pays off. Years of service is usually awarded by foreign trips or retiring abroad. This is the life when you transition to a life of non-work activities, whether it is travelling, diving into personal projects or even learning or new language. However, while all these plans to do all this in an affordable country seem like a great warm experience, it may have its downside: loneliness.
A latest study published in Psychology and Aging, titled Trouble In Paradise? Emotional and Social Loneliness Among International Retirement Migrants, suggests that retirees who move abroad often experience a greater social isolation than those who say in their home state.
How Was The Research Conducted?
The researchers compared nearly 5,000 Dutch retirees living abroad to more than 1,300 who stayed in Netherlands. The study found that retirees who moved overseas were socially isolated and even though they were also often healthier and wealthier than the ones who stayed back.
The lead author of the study, Esma Betül Savaş, who is also a doctoral researcher at 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."
How Does Social Loneliness Occur?
This happens when you have a lack of broad circle of friends, whereas emotional loneliness is tied to lack of close friends and partners. You may have tons of friends, but no one to share deep thoughts with.
However, those who stayed back stayed connected with their friends and family back home, in fact, some of them were able to strengthen their relationships after retirement. However, there was also another group of retirees, those who built strong relationships in their new country and felt less isolated.
Researchers also found that those who engaged with their neighbors and felt a sense of belonging in their new home had lower levels of social loneliness. “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 said.
“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,” she concluded.
ALSO READ: How Old Are Your Organs? New Study Links Organ Aging to Disease Risk
What Can Social Loneliness Do At An Older Age?
As per the National Institute on Aging, social isolation and loneliness may be bad for brain health. These have been linked to poorer cognitive function and higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, little social activity and being alone also makes it more difficult to perform everyday tasks such as driving, paying bills, taking medicines, and cooking.
It could lead to:
- Loss of mobility
- Vision or hearing problems
- Psychological or cognitive challenges
- Feeling a lack of purpose
- Financial struggles
- Living alone
- Lack of transportation
- Inability to leave home without help