Community-level determinants of loneliness and social isolation across younger and older adults in Australia
1
School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
2
School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia
3
Prevention Research Collaboration, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
4
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
5
Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
6
School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
7
School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Loneliness and social isolation are recognised public health challenges with significant implications for mental and physical wellbeing. While most interventions target individual-level factors, the broader community determinants of social connection remain poorly understood. This study examined the independent and age-specific effects of community and neighbourhood characteristics on loneliness and social isolation among younger and older adults in Australia.
METHODS:
Longitudinal data were drawn from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, including four wave pairs (2006–07, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2018–19). Participants aged 18–30 and 60 years and older were analysed separately using lagged mixed-effects Poisson regression models to estimate risk ratios for loneliness and social isolation across nine community and neighbourhood-level determinants including: altruism, civic engagement, community engagement, cultural practices, neighbourhood safety, neighbourhood atmosphere, social cohesion, remoteness and SEIFA, adjusting for individual and interpersonal factors.
RESULTS:
Low community engagement was the strongest risk factor for both loneliness (younger RR = 1.34; older RR = 1.35) and social isolation (younger RR= 1.58; older RR= 2.02). Low neighbourhood social cohesion increased the risk of loneliness (RR = 1.15) and social isolation (RR = 1.36) among older adults and increased isolation among younger adults (RR = 1.54). Additional age-specific effects were observed for neighbourhood safety and cultural practices, suggesting distinct contextual pathways through which community environments influence connection.
CONCLUSIONS:
Findings highlight the critical role of community engagement and social cohesion in preventing loneliness and isolation across the life course. Addressing these challenges requires public health approaches that extend beyond individual-level interventions to strengthen community infrastructure, inclusive cultural practices, and neighbourhood safety, creating environments that foster belonging and social wellbeing for all ages.
Loneliness and social isolation are recognised public health challenges with significant implications for mental and physical wellbeing. While most interventions target individual-level factors, the broader community determinants of social connection remain poorly understood. This study examined the independent and age-specific effects of community and neighbourhood characteristics on loneliness and social isolation among younger and older adults in Australia.
METHODS:
Longitudinal data were drawn from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, including four wave pairs (2006–07, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2018–19). Participants aged 18–30 and 60 years and older were analysed separately using lagged mixed-effects Poisson regression models to estimate risk ratios for loneliness and social isolation across nine community and neighbourhood-level determinants including: altruism, civic engagement, community engagement, cultural practices, neighbourhood safety, neighbourhood atmosphere, social cohesion, remoteness and SEIFA, adjusting for individual and interpersonal factors.
RESULTS:
Low community engagement was the strongest risk factor for both loneliness (younger RR = 1.34; older RR = 1.35) and social isolation (younger RR= 1.58; older RR= 2.02). Low neighbourhood social cohesion increased the risk of loneliness (RR = 1.15) and social isolation (RR = 1.36) among older adults and increased isolation among younger adults (RR = 1.54). Additional age-specific effects were observed for neighbourhood safety and cultural practices, suggesting distinct contextual pathways through which community environments influence connection.
CONCLUSIONS:
Findings highlight the critical role of community engagement and social cohesion in preventing loneliness and isolation across the life course. Addressing these challenges requires public health approaches that extend beyond individual-level interventions to strengthen community infrastructure, inclusive cultural practices, and neighbourhood safety, creating environments that foster belonging and social wellbeing for all ages.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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