Lonely By Comparison: Individual, Network, and Regional Occupational Status and Loneliness across 30 Countries

While social connectedness often alleviates feelings of isolation, certain social ties may exacerbate loneliness. Drawing on theories of social cost and relative deprivation, this study examined whether the occupational status accessible through social networks at the individual and regional levels was associated with loneliness and how these associations were moderated by individuals' own occupational status. Multilevel analysis, applied to data from the 2017 International Social Survey Programme across 30 countries, yielded three main findings. First, four dimensions of network occupational status derived from a position generator—a greater variety, higher level, broader range, and higher cumulative status—were all associated with increased loneliness. Second, these associations were particularly pronounced among individuals with low occupational status. Third, living in regions with higher average network occupational status was associated with greater feelings of loneliness, independent of individual and network occupational status. In short, high-status social ties and contexts can contribute to feelings of loneliness, especially among low-status individuals. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions that consider the complex interplay between individual status, network status, and social context in addressing loneliness.