One in three people between the ages of 18 and 53 in Germany feels at least sometimes lonely, according to researchers at the Federal Institute for Demographic Research (BiB) in Wiesbaden, writes the newspaper Die Neue Westfälische (NW) on May 29. ).
Following the coronavirus pandemic, loneliness in Germany is widespread not only among older people, but also among young people under 30 years of age. According to a study, the feeling of loneliness has increased considerably in Germany, especially in the last five years.
From 2005 to 2017, the proportion of young and middle-aged adults living alone remained fairly stable, ranging between 14% and 17%. However, in 2020, this figure jumped to almost 41%.
A year later, the proportion of single people among young and middle-aged people was almost 47%. According to an analysis of winter 2022/2023, the feeling of loneliness fell again to 36%.
According to researchers, the effects of chronic loneliness are problematic in many ways. Lonely people are more likely to have sleep problems, increase the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke, and lower immune defenses.
Lonely people are also more susceptible to addiction. Additionally, single people are at greater risk of self-isolation and possible political or religious radicalization.
“Therefore, growing loneliness among the population can represent a danger for democracy, as it can endanger internal social cohesion.”explained BiB research director Martin Buyard.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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