The results showed significant data gaps, especially in low- and middle-income countries, as well as significant geographical variability in loneliness. The level in northern European countries is consistently lower than in other regions.
Existing evidence showed that loneliness not only affected mental health and well-being, but was also associated with a number of physical health problems and early death.
A recent estimate by U.S. researchers suggests that one-third of the population in industrialized countries experienced loneliness and one in 12 experienced loneliness at a level that could lead to serious health problems. But it was still unclear how widespread loneliness was worldwide.
A team of Australian researchers led by the University of Sydney decided to summarize the prevalence of loneliness worldwide to help policymakers assess the scale and severity of the problem.
They trawled research databases and found 57 observational studies that reported national estimates of loneliness in 113 countries or territories between 2000 and 2019.
Data were available for young people (12-17 years old) in 77 countries or regions, young adults (18-29 years old) in 30 countries, middle-aged adults (30-59 years old) in 32 countries, and older adults (60 years old or older) ) In 40 countries.
Data coverage was significantly higher in high-income countries (especially Europe) compared to low- and middle-income countries.
In total, the meta-analysis included 212 assessments from 106 countries in 24 studies. The overall prevalence of youth loneliness ranged from 9.2 percent in Southeast Asia to 14.4 percent in the Eastern Mediterranean.
For adults, a meta-analysis was performed only in Europe, and a uniform geographical model was found for all age groups.
For example, the incidence of loneliness was consistently lowest in northern European countries (2.9 per cent in young adults; 2.7 per cent in middle-aged adults and 5.2 per cent in older adults) and highest in eastern European countries (7.5 per cent). percent of young adults, 9.6 percent of middle-aged adults, and 21.3 percent of older adults).
The data were not sufficient to draw conclusions about trends in loneliness overtime worldwide, but researchers point out that even if the loneliness problem had not worsened during their exploration period (2000โ19), covid-19 could have had a profound effect. loneliness. In this context, they say, “our assessment provides an important pre-pandemic starting point for future surveillance.”
They acknowledged that there were limitations in their assessment, such as different sampling procedures and measures adopted by the studies. And they pointed out that data gaps in low- and middle-income countries raised an important issue of equality.
However, given the negative effects of loneliness on health and longevity, the authors said their findings confirmed the need to approach loneliness as an important public health problem.
โPublic health interventions to prevent and reduce loneliness require well-coordinated ongoing monitoring at different stages of life and in broad geographic areas,โ they wrote.
โThe large differences in the prevalence of loneliness between countries and regions require in-depth research to address the causes of loneliness at systemic levels and to develop interventions to address them,โ they concluded.
Loneliness is costly for individuals and society and should be a political priority, argued Roger OโSullivan of the Irish Institute of Public Health and colleagues in a linked editorial.
They pointed out that the pandemic dispelled the myth that loneliness was only a problem for the elderly, and said that public health measures must now take this into account and take into account lifestyle.
This meant taking into account the social and structural factors that contributed to the risk of loneliness, such as poverty, education, transport, inequality and housing, and stepping up protection measures, such as general awareness-raising campaigns on loneliness and stereotypes. and participation.
Source: ANI
Source: The Nordic Page
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