Heaven is lost? Retirees who move abroad face greater risk of loneliness

The dream of a sunny beach town in Mexico or a quaint village in Spain bears hidden costs that many people don’t expect, according to new research published in the journal Psychology and Aging.

Although international retirement immigration is becoming increasingly popular in Europe, North America and Asia, researchers have found that retirees who move abroad have much higher social loneliness than those who stay in their home country.

“In Europe and around the world, international retirement immigrants are becoming more and more popular. On social media, you’ll see everyone in Europe sunbathing in Spain, and American retirees are moving to Mexico and Japan retirees to Malaysia.” “Although these retirement immigrants often report being happy, they may still face the struggle to adapt to a new country.”

The comprehensive study compared nearly 5,000 Dutch retirees living abroad, with about 1,300 remaining in the Netherlands. To obtain this study, participants must be over 65 years old and relocate after 50 years of age.

The researchers distinguished two forms of loneliness in the analysis: emotional loneliness, which is due to a lack of intimacy (such as intimate friendships or partnerships) and social loneliness, which reflects the lack of broader community connections.

The findings show that despite generally enjoying better health and higher socioeconomic status, retired immigrants experience social loneliness than their home peers, and these lonelinesses are often associated with reduced loneliness.

Interestingly, most retired immigrants do not report higher emotional loneliness than non-immigrants. The researchers attribute it to the fact that many retirees relocated with their spouse or partner and maintained a crucial intimacy.

But when retired immigrants lose contact with their good friends and family from their hometown, they suffer from social and emotional loneliness. Instead, those who have stronger ties with their neighbors and feel a sense of belonging in the new country report less social isolation.

“Older adults may face dual dangers when retiring to a new country because they are vulnerable to age-related loneliness and immigration-related risk factors, which itself is a risk factor for adverse health outcomes,” Savaş explained. “For those considering retirement migration, it is important to consider how to maintain social connections in the country of origin and establish new connections in the country of destination.”

This study highlights the potential dark side of what is often portrayed as an idyllic lifestyle change. Social media platforms showcase sun-drenched retirees enjoying lower cost of living and a warm climate, but the daily reality may include the challenge of building new social networks and maintaining connections with adult children and lifelong friends.

This study is a time when many countries experience population aging and increase international mobility for retirees. The results of the study suggest that retirement plans should go beyond financial considerations, including strategies for social connection and community integration.

Mental health experts recommend that those considering international retirement take steps to maintain existing relationships through regular video calls and visits, while actively building new social circles through community activities, language learning, and participation of expats and local communities.

Public health officials and policy makers of popular retirement destinations may also want to consider developing plans specifically designed to help foreign retirees integrate into their new communities and combat social distancing.

As retirement immigration continues to grow globally, understanding these social and emotional challenges has become increasingly important to ensure that the golden years abroad really live up to retirees’ expectations of heaven.