Older Adults Tolerate Silence Better Than Younger Generations

Overview

• Recent coverage on June 22 and 23, 2026 summarized studies showing people aged about 55 and older report greater comfort with silence than adults who grew up with smartphones and constant notifications.
• Psychologists and neuroscientists say repeated exposure to quiet in pre-internet childhoods trained older cohorts to tolerate unfilled time, while younger people face attention fragmentation from frequent alerts that make pauses feel empty.
• The American Psychological Association cited a study in which older adults reported fewer episodes of boredom than younger participants, a finding used by reporters to illustrate the generational pattern.
• Researchers and journalists point to practical steps that can boost silence tolerance at any age, such as scheduled phone-free moments, walking without headphones, reducing notifications and simple breathing or mindfulness exercises, which can improve focus and reduce anxiety.
• Experts caution that current evidence is limited and not universal, with results likely shaped by culture, income and other social factors, so more cross-cultural and controlled research is needed to confirm causes and guide policy or clinical recommendations.