A new AARP report warns that loneliness among older adults has surged into a worsening public health threat, with Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities bearing a disproportionate burden. Adults 45 and older across the United States are feeling more isolated, but AANHPI respondents are 53 percent more likely to report loneliness than their White counterparts, raising alarms about an under-recognized health disparity.
Researchers surveyed 4,561 adults using a nationally representative online panel and found that 40 percent of U.S. adults now say they are lonely, up from 35 percent in 2010 and 2018 when similar questions were asked. AARP links this uptick to shrinking social circles, the rise of technology, and major life transitions such as retirement and the loss of a spouse, all of which can erode in-person connections and leave older adults more isolated.
For AANHPI communities, the disparity is especially stark. While the study does not explain the gap, Oxford University Press points to “structural factors including immigration and citizenship status, language and literacy barriers, and underrepresentation in health research” facing Asian immigrants and their children. These forces can compound isolation, making it harder to access care, participate in community life, and be fully counted in health data—intensifying racial health inequities tied to loneliness.
Experts cited in the article call for more inclusive research and culturally tailored programs to address this crisis, as well as everyday steps individuals can take, from attending community events to simply starting a conversation.
See: “Study finds loneliness surging for AANHPI adults” (December 5, 2025)
