New study challenges the idea that loneliness can only be cured with company (and provides the solution)

Loneliness has become a global health concern, as it is linked to a range of negative consequences for physical and mental well-being. Depression, anxiety, poor health and even a higher risk of premature death are among the problems that have been linked to loneliness.

That's why there's been a lot of talk in recent years about ways to combat loneliness. But while the most common solution seems simple: meeting up with friends, family, or making new connections, a new study suggests that not every way to cope with loneliness has to be social.

Sometimes, being alone can help you.

A study published in 2026 in Frontiers in Psychiatry analyzed data from 18,352 people, ages 16 to 99, to understand what people do when they feel lonely and which strategies they find most helpful.

The researchers analyzed two large databases, the BBC Loneliness Experiment and the EU Loneliness Survey , looking at the ways people chose to manage feelings of loneliness.

Spending time with loved ones and strengthening existing relationships with friends and family were among the most commonly used strategies. But alongside these, many people also chose activities that were done alone: ??pursuing a hobby, studying, working, playing sports, or simply giving themselves time.

So loneliness doesn't seem to have just one answer and, surprisingly, it's not always "you have to go out and meet people."

There is no single formula for loneliness.

Researchers suggest that the best way to look at this problem is to think of a kind of "toolbox" against loneliness, where each person has different strategies they can use depending on the moment.

For some, this might be a coffee with a friend. For others, it might be reading a book at home, taking a walk alone, or engaging in an activity that gives them meaning.

Age also appears to play a role. Younger people were more likely to report seeking therapy, seeing loved ones, and taking time for themselves. They also found it more helpful to talk to family and friends and reflect on why they felt lonely.

Older adults, on the other hand, were less likely to seek therapy and more likely to know their neighbors or engage in activities that distracted them.

Even the way we experience loneliness changes

The study also found differences between men and women. Men were more likely to report using activities like club memberships or team sports to cope with loneliness.

Women, meanwhile, found a wider range of strategies more helpful, including therapy, discussing feelings, and social activities.

This shows that being surrounded by people doesn't automatically mean you won't feel lonely. The quality of relationships can be just as, if not more, important than the number of people we have around us.

Maybe the question isn't "How do we fight loneliness?"

According to researchers, instead of focusing solely on interventions that should be offered to people to reduce loneliness, it may be more helpful to ask: "What is this person you are helping already doing?"

This approach places emphasis on the individual's ability to find ways that work for them, rather than there being a universal solution.

After all, sometimes what we need when we feel alone is a phone call with someone we love. But other times it can be a book, a hobby, a walk, a personal project, or just some time away from the noise.

Because being alone and feeling alone are not necessarily the same thing.