The opposite would imply that the elderly population were more lonely as middle-aged adults, and then gained friends as they got older. I think it’s more true that the older generations had more opportunity to hang out, and this was moreso reflected when they were middle aged (but we have no stats collected to compare).
Or it can simply imply that the elderly population was less lonely as middle-aged adults and now keep more of the friends they had, or just have a preference to meet other people the same age.
Or it can simply imply that the elderly population was less lonely as middle-aged adults and now keep more of the friends they had, or just have a preference to meet other people the same age.