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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Multi-Country Study

Author

Listed:
  • Roger O’Sullivan

    (Institute of Public Health, D08 NH90 Dublin, Ireland
    The Bamford Centre, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK)

  • Annette Burns

    (Institute of Public Health, D08 NH90 Dublin, Ireland
    The Bamford Centre, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK)

  • Gerard Leavey

    (The Bamford Centre, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK)

  • Iracema Leroi

    (The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Vanessa Burholt

    (School of Nursing/School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
    Centre for Innovative Ageing, School of Health and Social Care, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK)

  • James Lubben

    (School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA)

  • Julianne Holt-Lunstad

    (Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA)

  • Christina Victor

    (College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK)

  • Brian Lawlor

    (The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Mireya Vilar-Compte

    (Research Center for Equitable Development (EQUIDE), Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City 01219, Mexico)

  • Carla M. Perissinotto

    (Division of Geriatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • Mark A. Tully

    (Institute of Mental Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK)

  • Mary Pat Sullivan

    (School of Social Work, Faculty of Education and Professional Studies, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON P1B 8L7, Canada)

  • Michael Rosato

    (The Bamford Centre, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK)

  • Joanna McHugh Power

    (Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, W23 F2K8 Kildare, Ireland)

  • Elisa Tiilikainen

    (Department of Social Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Thomas R. Prohaska

    (College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent public health social measures have challenged our social and economic life, with increasing concerns around potentially rising levels of social isolation and loneliness. This paper is based on cross-sectional online survey data (available in 10 languages, from 2 June to 16 November 2020) with 20,398 respondents from 101 different countries. It aims to help increase our understanding of the global risk factors that are associated with social isolation and loneliness, irrespective of culture or country, to support evidence-based policy, services and public health interventions. We found the prevalence of severe loneliness was 21% during COVID-19 with 6% retrospectively reporting severe loneliness prior to the pandemic. A fifth were defined as isolated based on their usual connections, with 13% reporting a substantial increase in isolation during COVID-19. Personal finances and mental health were overarching and consistently cross-cutting predictors of loneliness and social isolation, both before and during the pandemic. With the likelihood of future waves of COVID-19 and related restrictions, it must be a public health priority to address the root causes of loneliness and social isolation and, in particular, address the needs of specific groups such as carers or those living alone.

Suggested Citation

  • Roger O’Sullivan & Annette Burns & Gerard Leavey & Iracema Leroi & Vanessa Burholt & James Lubben & Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Christina Victor & Brian Lawlor & Mireya Vilar-Compte & Carla M. Perissinott, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Multi-Country Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:9982-:d:640986
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Felix Müller & Susanne Röhr & Ulrich Reininghaus & Steffi G. Riedel-Heller, 2021. "Social Isolation and Loneliness during COVID-19 Lockdown: Associations with Depressive Symptoms in the German Old-Age Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Verena H Menec & Nancy E Newall & Corey S Mackenzie & Shahin Shooshtari & Scott Nowicki, 2019. "Examining individual and geographic factors associated with social isolation and loneliness using Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Klinenberg, E., 2016. "Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Living Alone: Identifying the Risks for Public Health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(5), pages 786-787.
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    10. Bruno Arpino & Christine A. Mair & Nekehia T. Quashie & Radoslaw Antczak, 2022. "Loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic—are unpartnered and childless older adults at higher risk?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1327-1338, December.
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