HMN 2026: How personal control reduces loneliness in older Australians

Loneliness among older Australians is a growing public health concern, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. New research from Monash University has revealed that older Australians with a stronger sense of personal control over their lives experience significantly less loneliness.

Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the study examined how locus of control—the extent to which an individual believes they can influence life events and outcomes, rather than attributing these to external forces such as luck or fate—influenced loneliness among older Australians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Pei-Chun Ko from the School of Social Sciences at Monash University, said the findings demonstrated the protective power of personal agency. “Loneliness is not just about how many people you see, it’s also about how much control you feel you have. Older adults who believe they can influence their circumstances seem better equipped to cope with isolation, even in the most challenging periods,” Dr. Ko said.

The study analyzed data from the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, tracking Australians aged 65 and over. Researchers measured locus of control in 2011, 2015, and 2019, and then measured loneliness approximately one year later in 2012, 2016, and 2020. This approach helped establish that a sense of control influences subsequent loneliness, rather than the reverse.

The study found that higher internal locus of control was consistently linked with lower loneliness. When comparing 2016 to the COVID-19 period in 2020, this association was significantly stronger during the pandemic, suggesting a strong sense of personal control becomes especially important during crises.

Understanding the psychological factors that buffer against loneliness is increasingly vital as Australia’s population ages. The study indicates that internal locus of control may help older adults reframe solitude as manageable or even meaningful, supported by traits such as self-efficacy, emotional regulation, problem-solving confidence and help-seeking behaviors.

The authors argue the findings open the door to new intervention strategies that go beyond increasing social contact. Approaches that build older adults’ sense of agency—including programs that strengthen problem-solving and active participation in daily life—may reduce loneliness more effectively than social activities alone.

“Boosting social contact matters, but it’s only part of the picture. When older adults feel they can exercise control over their own daily lives—solve problems and stay actively involved—they’re far more resilient against loneliness. We need policies and programs that recognize this,” Dr. Ko said.

The study’s authors call on policymakers to fund and evaluate programs that build older people’s agency alongside social initiatives and embed agency-building into aged-care services. They also argue that further long-term research is needed to better understand how psychological resources shape experiences of loneliness in later life.

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