Scientists reveal coronavirus pandemic linked to increase in loneliness

COVID led to an increase in loneliness around the world, according to a new study.

Researchers found that people all over the globe suffered an increase in loneliness during the pandemic, which could have implications for people’s long-term mental and physical health, longevity and wellbeing.

Study lead author Doctor Mareike Ernst, of Johannes Gutenberg

University in Germany, said: “The pandemic does appear to have increased loneliness.

“Given the small effect, dire warnings about a ‘loneliness pandemic’ may be overblown.

“However, as loneliness constitutes a risk for premature mortality and mental and physical health, it should be closely monitored.

“We think that loneliness should be made a priority in large-scale research projects aimed at investigating the health outcomes of the pandemic.”

Dr Ernst and her colleagues wanted to explore whether changes such as lockdowns, physical distancing, and the switch to remote work and school during the pandemic increased people’s loneliness.

To figure out whether the pandemic actually increased loneliness, the researchers reviewed 34 studies from four continents – primarily in Europe and North America –involving more than 200,000 total participants. All of the data came from long-term studies.

The researchers found a “small but significant” increase in loneliness during the pandemic – about a five percent increase in the prevalence of loneliness across the individual studies, on average.

However, not all groups experienced that increase.

Dr Ernst said more research was needed on factors that put some individuals and groups at higher risk of loneliness, whether the changes in loneliness were primarily due to alterations in the quality or the quantity of people’s social interactions, and whether those differed across different social groups, such as students and older adults.