Essential
- According to the WHO, loneliness causes more than 870,000 deaths per year in the world.
- The lack of social bond increases the risks of cardiovascular diseases, depression and dementia.
- Young people and residents of low -income countries are the most affected by loneliness.
Between 2014 and 2019, more than 871,000 deaths per year were linked to loneliness, one every 36 seconds, according to a report by theWorld Health Organization (WHO). Indeed, the lack of social bond has consequences on health, by increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke (stroke), depressive disorder, anxiety and dementia.
Young people and people living in low -income countries more concerned
In the world, almost one in six people say today feel alone, specifies WHO. All age groups are affected but even more young people, with 17 to 21 % of 13-29 year olds who frequently feel loneliness. As for adolescents, about one in five feels isolated and without real social contact. In addition to health problems, the latter have an additional risk: a 22 % larger probability of obtaining notes or an insufficient qualification level.
“Even in a digitally connected world, many young people feel alone, underlines Chido Mpemba, co -chair of the WHO committee on the social bond and adviser to the president of the African Union. While technology is reshaping our lives, we must ensure that it strengthens human ties, rather than weakening them. Our report shows that it is essential to integrate social ties into all policies, whether in the field of digital access, health, education or employment.”
Another population particularly affected by loneliness: people living in low -income countries. 24 % of them feel alone, twice as much as in high income countries, where this percentage is around 11 %.
Loneliness increases in summer
WHO lists several risk factors for loneliness and social isolation:
- Be in bad health
- Have a low income or education level
- Live alone
- Do not have community infrastructure, public policies and sufficient digital technologies.
For young people, the health body also points to the time spent in front of the screens as well as the “negative online interactions on mental health and well-being of young people”.
Some countries have set up measures to limit isolation. The Republic of Korea, for example, made the “prescription sociale“Activities for the elderly, such as gardening or music.
France is also concerned by these social phenomena. Over the period 2022-2023, the rate of isolated people remained stable, going from 11 % to 12 %, according to a rapport Directed by the Fondation de France and published by the Research Center for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions (Crédoc).
“Loneliness progresses with the arrival of sunny days, note the report. A quarter of the population declares to feel regularly alone in July 2023. An increased figure of 5 points compared to January 2023. Summer sociability takes place more outdoors, it is also more visible in the eyes of others and can suggest that its own social life is less dense than that of the rest of the population.”
