1 in 6 adults plagued by loneliness as researchers reveal lasting impact of COVID pandemic
The team also found a significant lasting effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly 44% of respondents said the pandemic increased their feelings of loneliness — while 48.2% reported increased feelings of isolation.
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Senior author of the study, Dr. Azeem Majeed of the National Health Service, said, “As an NHS GP, I see how loneliness affects both the mental and physical health of my patients. It contributes to problems such as anxiety and depression, increases the risk of long-term conditions, and often leads to more frequent GP consultations.”
Nearly 44% of respondents in a new study said the COVID pandemic increased their feelings of loneliness — while 48.2% reported increased feelings of isolation. (iStock)
He said that “by strengthening community connections and social capital, we can help prevent loneliness and enable people to live healthier, happier and more connected lives.”
Whether people were in relationships or not didn’t seem to impact their loneliness levels.
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The research found that 45% of respondents were married or in a civil partnership — while almost 20% were single.
El-Osta said, “Loneliness is often treated as a private experience, but our findings reinforce that it is also a public health and community issue.”
He added that “public health responses need to look beyond individual resilience and consider the environments, services and community assets that help people feel connected, supported and able to participate.”
The research found that 45% of respondents in the study were married or in a civil partnership — while almost 20% were single. (iStock)
The team believes that this is “one of the world’s largest dedicated studies of loneliness and the largest of its kind conducted in a single country,” according to Imperial College London.
The group also cautioned that while the findings offer an important snapshot, “the study cannot be used to estimate the scale of the problem at the population level.”
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In addition, the researchers noted several limitations of their study, including that it overrepresented highly educated individuals and underrepresented minority ethnic groups.
They also highlighted the “inherent self-selection bias of this type of online survey, where those more interested or affected by an issue are more likely to take part.”
Recently, another study found that feeling lonely may take a toll on older adults’ memory — though it may not speed up cognitive decline.
Screening for loneliness should be incorporated into routine cognitive assessments as one way to support healthy aging, said researchers. (iStock)
Researchers from Colombia, Spain and Sweden analyzed data from more than 10,000 adults ages 65 to 94 across 12 European countries.
They found those who reported higher levels of loneliness did worse on memory tests at the start of the study, according to research published in the spring in the journal Aging Mental Health.
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The researchers also suggested that screening for loneliness be incorporated into routine cognitive assessments as one way to support healthy aging.
Deirdre Bardolf of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/1-6-adults-plagued-loneliness-researchers-reveal-lasting-impact-covid-pandemic