A Life Without Children: Unpacking the Relationship Between Childlessness and Loneliness in Adulthood
Published online on January 28, 2026
Abstract
Journal of Family Issues, Ahead of Print.
Research on the relation between childlessness and loneliness is limited and inconclusive. While some studies link childlessness to higher loneliness, others find no association. Few studies distinguish between distinct loneliness types (social, emotional,...
Research on the relation between childlessness and loneliness is limited and inconclusive. While some studies link childlessness to higher loneliness, others find no association. Few studies distinguish between distinct loneliness types (social, emotional,...