Thank you David, I feel considerably more perked up for the – lonesome – chuckles I enjoyed when reading your article.

I especially liked the combination of the definition of "Loneliness – the disconnect we feel when our desire for interpersonal relationships is not met by those we perceive we currently have"

with

"Couples with children were lonelier than couples without children"

As Homer Simpson might have said, as peer reviewer, "D'oh…"

(Though in a more philosophical frame of mind he also said, "Because they’re stupid, that’s why. That’s why everybody does everything!")

So taking the risk factors into account we can reduce loneliness by: decreasing social networking communication with family and friends as well as reducing our social support foundation; not living with children; not being male or at least being female in later life and also avoiding being poorer than we wish. Oh, and moving house.

Are these optional for misanthropes?

Hasn't the author read that 'Every man is an island'?

Hasn't he heard that most married man live in a state of 'tongue-lashed oppression'?

Best thing to do is to buy a dog! :)

Woof!

"Loneliness – the disconnect we feel when our desire for interpersonal relationships is not met by those we perceive we currently have.."

By that definition I've been lonely for forty years. And all this time I thought I was just horny!