# Social isolation and loneliness trends in Europe

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/social-isolation-and-loneliness-trends-in-europe
> Updated: 2026-09-09T13:40:25.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

Social analyses and research in Europe have highlighted growing trends of loneliness and social isolation across different demographics.

Initial data focused on young adults and students, with reports indicating that over 57% of Europeans aged 18 to 35 experience moderate to strong feelings of loneliness. In Poland, nearly 13% of those aged 18–34 report feeling lonely “very often”. This trend is attributed to socio-economic shifts, the commercialization of social spaces, academic pressure, and the impact of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Subsequent research has examined behavioral links to isolation. A large-scale study of over 50,000 participants across 15 countries, utilizing the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), suggests that smoking is linked to increased levels of loneliness. Presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress by researchers from Imperial College London and University College London, the study used the UCLA Loneliness Scale to measure perceived lack of companionship.

The findings indicate that current smokers report higher levels of loneliness compared to non-smokers, even when accounting for age and gender. Lead researcher Dr. Kier Phillips noted that while previous research often explored whether loneliness leads to smoking, this study investigated whether the act of smoking itself contributes to social isolation. The data suggests that smokers may experience greater increases in loneliness over time, indicating the relationship may extend beyond the direct physical health impacts of tobacco use.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: European study links smoking to increased loneliness and social isolation

A study of 50,000 people across 15 European countries links smoking to increased feelings of loneliness and social isolation, challenging the notion of smoking as a purely social behavior.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-study-links-smoking-to-increased-loneliness-and-social-isolation

### 2026-09-07: European study links smoking to increased loneliness

A study of 50,000 people across 15 European countries found that smoking is linked to increased loneliness and higher rates of social isolation over time.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-study-links-smoking-to-increased-loneliness

### 2026-08-27: Rising loneliness and social isolation among young adults in Europe

Studies show rising loneliness and social isolation among young Europeans, with over 57% of those aged 18-35 reporting feelings of solitude, exacerbated by social media and academic pressures.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rising-loneliness-and-social-isolation-among-young-adults-in-europe

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Cite as: Social isolation and loneliness trends in Europe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/social-isolation-and-loneliness-trends-in-europe