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Prevalence and Social Inequality in Youth Loneliness in the UK

Author

Listed:
  • Pamela Qualter

    (Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

  • Alexandra Hennessey

    (Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

  • Keming Yang

    (Department of Sociology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK)

  • Kayleigh L. Chester

    (Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK)

  • Ellen Klemera

    (Centre for Health Services Studies, Division of Law, Society and Social Justice, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NZ, UK)

  • Fiona Brooks

    (Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
    Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia)

Abstract

Using data from the English arm of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, we examined the prevalence of loneliness for school-aged adolescents and how it is linked to social inequalities. The HBSC study collects data from 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds, and is repeated every four years, allowing the exploration of prevalence rates of loneliness pre COVID-19 pandemic for comparison. We also explored whether loneliness was associated with socio-economic status (SES) and linked to academic attainment and health complaints. The total sample was 14,077 from 156 schools in England. Findings revealed a stable prevalence rate of 8.2% for loneliness from 2006 to 2014. We also found, across all survey years, (1) those aged 15 years were significantly lonelier than younger peers, (2) those who reported lower SES were lonelier than their more well-off peers, and (3) higher loneliness was associated with being ‘”below average” academically and reporting more health complaints. Conclusions: These prevalence data enable researchers, policymakers, and others to make comparisons with prevalence rates during the COVID-19 pandemic to explore whether there have been increases in loneliness among school-aged adolescents. Loneliness was consistently related to social inequalities, suggesting that targeted interventions that include whole systems changes are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Pamela Qualter & Alexandra Hennessey & Keming Yang & Kayleigh L. Chester & Ellen Klemera & Fiona Brooks, 2021. "Prevalence and Social Inequality in Youth Loneliness in the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10420-:d:649444
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    Cited by:

    1. Katrine Rich Madsen & Mogens Trab Damsgaard & Kimberly Petersen & Pamela Qualter & Bjørn E. Holstein, 2024. "Bullying at School, Cyberbullying, and Loneliness: National Representative Study of Adolescents in Denmark," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-11, March.

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