Smoking Linked to Increased Loneliness and Social Isolation

A large-scale study presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress 2026 found that smoking is associated with increased loneliness and social isolation in older adults. The research, led by Dr. Keir Philipp from Imperial College London, analyzed data from over 50,000 participants across 15 European countries. Smokers reported higher levels of loneliness than non-smokers, and the link persisted even after adjusting for other factors. The study challenges the common belief that smoking is a social activity and suggests that it may contribute to social withdrawal due to mobility limitations and changing social norms around smoking.