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Many dream of spending their golden years in a sun-drenched, budget-friendly locale. However, a new study published in Psychology and Aging suggests that retiring abroad may increase the risk of loneliness among older adults.
Researchers at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographics Institute found that while international retirement migration is on the rise, retirees who move to foreign countries may face significant social challenges.
“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,” said study lead author Esma Betül Savaş, MSc. “Although these retirement migrants generally report being happy, they may still face struggles adapting to a new country.”
These struggles often involve a decrease in contact with family and long-time friends, including adult children, and difficulties in establishing new social connections in their adopted countries.
The study surveyed 4,995 Dutch retirees living abroad and compared them to a control group of 1,338 Dutch retirees living in the Netherlands. To qualify as a “retirement migrant,” participants living abroad had to be over 65 and have moved to their new country after age 50.
Researchers assessed two types of loneliness: emotional loneliness (lack of close friends or a partner) and social loneliness (lack of a broader social circle or community).
The findings revealed that retirement migrants experienced significantly higher levels of social loneliness compared to those who remained in their home country. This was observed despite the fact that the retirement migrants, on average, possessed higher socioeconomic status and better health, factors typically associated with reduced loneliness.
Interestingly, the study found no significant difference in emotional loneliness between the two groups, likely due to many retirees relocating with a spouse or partner.
However, retirement migrants who reported losing contact with close friends and family back home experienced both social and emotional loneliness. Conversely, those who established strong connections with neighbors and felt a sense of belonging in their new communities reported 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.”
The study underscores the importance of considering social support systems when planning a retirement abroad.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on the provided research and should not be taken as definitive advice. Individual experiences may vary, and readers are encouraged to conduct thorough research and consult with professionals before making decisions regarding retirement. The study focused on Dutch retirees and may not be fully representative of all international retirement migrants.
