A recent research study examining data from COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia indicates that being physically isolated doesn’t necessarily increase feelings of loneliness.
A recent study examining data from Covid-19 lockdowns in Australia indicates that being physically isolated doesn’t necessarily increase feelings of loneliness.
Loneliness, which refers to a personal sense of social disconnection, is linked to various health issues, including heart disease and depression. It can also heighten the risk of early death, a danger comparable to that posed by smoking and obesity.
Dr. Nancy Kong, the lead author from the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation at the University of Technology Sydney, noted that loneliness has become a significant and growing concern.
“Many believe that physical isolation automatically leads to greater feelings of loneliness. We thought that the COVID lockdowns provided a unique opportunity to test this assumption,” Dr. Kong explained.
“Our findings reveal that feeling lonely and being alone are completely different experiences.”
The study, titled “Physical isolation and loneliness: Evidence from COVID lockdowns in Australia,” was recently published in the Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organization, alongside co-author Jack Lam from the University of Melbourne.
The researchers analyzed data from over 17,000 individuals across Australia collected between 2018 and 2020 through the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey.
Participants were regularly asked to rate their agreement with the statement, ‘I often feel very lonely,’ on a scale from 1 to 7. The researchers compared responses from those who experienced extended lockdowns to those who did not.
Australia experienced longer lockdowns than many other countries, with survey participants in Victoria undergoing up to 154 days of lockdown in 2020, while areas like Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory had minimal or no lockdowns.
The results showed that both being in lockdown and the duration of lockdown had little to no impact on reported feelings of loneliness, indicating that loneliness is relatively stable over time.
“We accounted for various factors, including whether individuals were working remotely or on-site, their industry, living arrangements, age, personality traits, income levels, and other lifestyle elements,” stated Dr. Kong.
The majority did not report an increase in loneliness. However, an uptick in loneliness was noted among young individuals aged 15-25 and among extroverts, suggesting these groups may require more in-person interaction, particularly younger individuals still developing their social circles.
“People found they were commuting less, spending more time with family, and that relationship satisfaction generally improved. This might help explain why many were able to handle physical isolation without feeling lonely,” Dr. Kong added.
Nonetheless, there was a noted decline in mental health along with increased financial strain associated with the lockdowns, as indicated by the same research methods.
“It turns out that social connection—whether or not people maintain contact with friends, family, and their communities—is more crucial than merely being near others. Events such as the loss of a partner most significantly impact feelings of loneliness,” Dr. Lam pointed out.
Furthermore, technology and the internet played essential roles in facilitating social interactions during the lockdown periods. The researchers hope that a clearer understanding of the underlying causes of loneliness will assist in creating more effective strategies for enhancing public health and individual well-being.
“Our findings reinforce the notion that social isolation isn’t just about physical separation from others. The quality of social interactions and the presence of supportive social networks are vital in reducing feelings of loneliness,” Dr. Kong concluded.
