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Social isolation and loneliness trends in Europe

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2026-09-07 04:07 UTC → 2026-09-10 12:52 UTC · added removed

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 expanded the scope to examine has examined behavioral links to isolation. A large-scale study of over 50,000 participants across 15 countries countries, utilizing the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), suggests that smoking is linked to increased levels of loneliness. Findings presented 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 isolation loneliness over time compared to non-smokers. time, indicating the relationship may extend beyond the direct physical health impacts of tobacco use.

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  1. 2026-09-10 12:52 UTC Social isolation and loneliness trends in Europe
  2. 2026-09-07 04:07 UTC Social isolation and loneliness trends in Europe

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