A childfree life: unpacking the relationship between childlessness and loneliness in adulthood

Abstract Background Research about the impact of childlessness on feelings of loneliness is scarce and inconclusive. Although some research finds that childlessness is related to higher loneliness levels among young and older adults, other research finds no relationship. Moreover, little research makes the distinction between different loneliness types, nor between different life phases. In this article, we examine the relationship between childlessness and various loneliness types (overall, social, emotional and existential) among adults, while taking into account their specific life phase. Methods We make use of the cross-sectional ‘A Lonely Planet’ survey (N = 3756), funded by the Research Foundation Flanders, which was conducted in 2024 among adults (18+) in Flanders, Belgium. We perform descriptive and multivariate regression analyses with distinct loneliness types as outcomes. Results Results show that childless adults are lonelier (for all loneliness types) than parents (p < 0,01), also after controlling for gender, education level, employment status, subjective household income, self-rated health and partner status. However, this relationship depends on age and the specific loneliness type. Childless younger adults (18-34 years) experience more social and existential loneliness than parents (p < 0,05). Middle-aged childless adults (35-64) are more confronted with all loneliness types than parents (p < 0,01), and older childless adults (65-74 years) experience more overall and emotional loneliness than parents (p < 0,05). Last, we find no loneliness differences between older adults (75+) with or without children. Conclusions Overall, these findings highlight the importance of adopting a more nuanced perspective on the relationship between childlessness and loneliness, one that considers different loneliness types and the specific life phases of adults. Key messages • Childless adults are lonelier than parents, and this for all loneliness types. • It is important to adopt a more nuanced perspective on the relationship between childlessness and loneliness, by taking into account the different loneliness types and specific life stages of adults.