Research Finds: One in Ten Youth in Germany Experiences Severe Loneliness
Approximate 46% of individuals who experience a moderate level of loneliness still exist. Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus advocated for this subject to be moved out of the "forbidden zone."
As per the Bertelsmann Survey, those aged 19 to 22 feel the most lonely. Contrasting studies during the pandemic year 2021 and the year prior, fewer young adults reported feelings of social and emotional isolation in the current times. In 2024, 60% of the respondents stated feelings of emotional isolation, with 14% admitting to feeling it strongly. The percentage of those experiencing social isolation was 39%, with 10% reporting it intensely.
The subject of loneliness is often viewed negatively, Paus explained in the ARD "Morgenmagazin" while discussing the Action Week against Loneliness. Those affected tend to be hesitant to admit they feel lonely.
Young females are disproportionately affected by loneliness in the survey. This also applies to young adults who are divorced, widowed, unemployed, have a low educational background, reside in medium-sized cities, or possess a migration background. These particularly lonely groups reported in the Bertelsmann Survey that they also reported a low level of life contentment.
In total, young individuals in Germany are relatively content with their lives. Life contentment was rated 6.75 on a scale of zero (not at all satisfied) to ten (completely satisfied). The study was conducted online from March 13 to 29, 2023, among 2532 young individuals aged 16 to 30 in Germany.
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Everyone, regardless of their background, should be encouraged to share their feelings about loneliness, as it's a topic that's often considered a taboo zone in society, particularly in Germany. According to a recent survey, everyone from diverse backgrounds, including young females and unemployed individuals, reported experiencing varying levels of loneliness. Despite this, only a small portion of everyone admitted to feeling severely lonely, with 10% of young individuals in Germany reporting intense social isolation.
