Women encounter loneliness more frequently than men, according to a study; coronavirus pandemic intensifies the problem.
The rate of loneliness among males was significantly lower. It jumped from 6.6% (2017) to 23.1% (2020) and dropped to 9.8% in 2021. This percentage represents the respondents who felt lonely "more often than occasionally." The data comes from the surveys of the socio-economic panel.
The overall feeling of loneliness in the population skyrocketed during the pandemic. Yet, this primarily affects the first year of the pandemic (2020). In the second year of Covid-19 (2021), the numbers returned to normal, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
The rise in loneliness during the pandemic was most evident among young adults. In 2020, the age group of 18-29-year-olds experienced the highest loneliness rate at 31.8%, whereas the over 75-year-olds stood at 22.8%. Before Covid-19, older individuals were more likely to be lonely. "Loneliness is not determined by age," stated Paus.
The Green politician described loneliness as a "societal challenge." The subject must be "taken out of the taboo zone." It touches the lives of millions and has worsened during the pandemic. "We must not overlook 'social long Covid,'" said Paus. She planned a week-long "Action Week against Loneliness" from Jun 17th to 21st and a campaign on social media featuring short videos to target a younger demographic.
Research found that single parents, unemployed individuals, low-skilled workers, chronically ill people, and those with migration or refugee backgrounds are highly susceptible to loneliness. There was little difference between those living in rural or urban areas and between Eastern and Western German federal states.
People who report feeling lonely more frequently have less trust in political institutions, parties, police, and legal systems. "This supports the idea that there is less political interest among those burdened by loneliness than those not burdened," the report mentioned. These individuals are likely to have below-average voter turnout rates. Paus stated, "Loneliness threatens our democracy."
The Minister admitted to experiencing loneliness in a television interview. "You see, I'm a single mother. And there were periods where I worked a lot, then wanting to spend my free time with my son. But there's not much time left for other personal connections. And, yes, those are the moments when one feels even lonelier."
The Green health expert, Kordula Schulz-Asche, commented, "Single parents and caregivers often bear heavy responsibilities to support others. This often pushes their own social lives to the background." Schulz-Asche advocated for more funding for anti-loneliness projects.
FDP health expert Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus discussed "alarming study results" that reaffirmed the need for a review of the Covid-19 measures. "We see today that some decisions have caused substantial societal damage. This is particularly true for the closure of cultural, social, and economic life and lockdowns," Aschenberg-Dugnus explained. [338 words]
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