According to a newly published study lead by team of researchers lead by Mareike Ernst of Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz in Germany, “Loneliness increased across the world during the coronavirus pandemic as lockdowns and other mitigation measures led to higher levels of isolation”.

The team reportedly reviewed 34 studies, that measured loneliness before and after pandemics, from four continents that covered more than 200,000 participants. According to the findings of the study, the loneliness increased overall by 5 percent.

The study lead Ernst said “The pandemic does appear to have increased loneliness. Given the small effect sizes, dire warnings about a ‘loneliness pandemic’ may be overblown.”

We think that loneliness should be made a priority in large-scale research projects aimed at investigating the health outcomes of the pandemic.

– Mareike Ernst, lead author (source: The Hill Blog)

Ernst continued:

• “However, as loneliness constitutes a risk for premature mortality and mental and physical health, it should be closely monitored. We think that loneliness should be made a priority in large-scale research projects aimed at investigating the health outcomes of the pandemic.
• “Strong evidence supporting interventions addressing loneliness remains limited. The increase in loneliness associated with the pandemic highlights the need for a concerted effort to strengthen that evidence base.

• Loneliness increased globally due to the pandemic, study finds
• Loneliness Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Quoting a study by the University of California, San Francisco, the Hill Blog writes “that nearly half of young adults experienced mental health symptoms during the pandemic’s second year”.   

“Fifty-two percent of young adults surveyed by the Institute for Politics at Harvard Kennedy School reported experiencing feelings of depression and hopelessness, and nearly a quarter said they had thought about self-harm,” write the Hill.