Loneliness Linked to Poorer Health and Rise of Paid Social Clubs

A new study found that loneliness, distinct from social isolation, may contribute to poorer mental health, increased risk of depression, self‑harm or suicide attempts, reduced life satisfaction and poorer general health, including multimorbidity. The research did not find consistent evidence that loneliness directly affects specific cardiovascular outcomes such as coronary artery disease or stroke. About one in six people worldwide experience loneliness, according to the World Health Organization.

At the same time, paid social clubs are emerging as a market response to urban loneliness. For‑profit platforms such as TimeLeft, which matches strangers for group dinners, Chirpy Plus for people over 50, and EatWith, which arranges social dining experiences, are growing rapidly in the United Kingdom and Australia. These services differ from traditional not‑for‑profit clubs by charging membership fees and focusing on short‑term, curated social interactions.