According to the results of the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey from 2023, the oldest residents of Australia now have the lowest loneliness rates in the country. Instead, it is the young people in Australia who feel lonely and isolated.
From 2001 to 2021, the percentage of individuals aged 15-24 experiencing loneliness increased from 18.5% to 24.8%. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness was already on the rise. Young people today have fewer friends and weaker social connections compared to their parents and grandparents. Modern technology, especially social media, may also contribute to feelings of loneliness.
Professor Brock Bastian from the University of Melbourne suggests that the increasingly common use of social media may be linked to the rise of loneliness among young people. Short, low-pressure forms of communication, such as texting and using social media platforms, do not provide the full benefits of interpersonal contact. People may think they are connecting, but they do not receive the full benefits of interacting with others.
The HILDA study also revealed that individuals with poorer overall health are lonelier than healthy Australians, and women with mental health problems report higher loneliness rates than women without these problems.
Therefore, effective actions are needed to curb the growth of loneliness among young people. An example is the “social prescribing” program implemented in the United Kingdom, which involves connecting people with various social groups and activities to build relationships and prevent loneliness.
Considering these findings, it is important to strive for a society where young people have strong social ties and access to support and social interactions that help alleviate loneliness and isolation. Loneliness is a problem that affects the entire community, and addressing this issue requires involvement from both individuals and institutions.
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The source of the article is from the blog procarsrl.com.ar