Wisdom may be the key to reducing loneliness.

Over three-quarters of 340 adults studied in San Diego, California, were found to be affected by moderate to severe loneliness.

Loneliness is the difference between preferred and actual level of social relationships.

The high proportion of loneliness in community living adults was shown to peak three times in life; young adulthood, middle age and elder years.

Being single, living alone, and low income status were all associated with loneliness.

People affected by loneliness had increased depression and anxiety on testing, and lower levels of optimism, resilience and wisdom.

Study authors chose to highlight wisdom, a multidimensional concept that includes knowledge, emotion and behaviour, as a possible target for reducing loneliness.

The research is in International Psychogeriatrics. (ABC)