Recent research published by the American Psychological Association suggests that retirees who move abroad, despite often seeking warmer climates and lower costs, may experience greater social loneliness than those who remain in their home countries. A study led by Esma Betül Savaş surveyed nearly 5,000 Dutch retirement migrants and found they reported more social loneliness than non-migrants, despite typically having better health and higher socioeconomic status.
While retirement migrants generally did not experience increased emotional loneliness unless they had lost contact with family and friends from home, the research emphasizes the importance of maintaining existing social connections and developing new ones in the destination country. Those who established relationships with neighbors and developed a sense of belonging in their new country reported less social loneliness, highlighting the need for prospective retirement migrants to carefully consider their social support systems before relocating.
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