One in four Australian adults feel lonely, and the impacts can be dire. Loneliness increases our risks of depression, diabetes, dementia, self-harm and suicide.
But it's not a rare occurrence – one in four Australians report feeling lonely at any given time.
1 in 4 Australians feel lonely. Many Australians – especially younger Australians – report anxiety about socialising. Thirty per cent don't feel part of a group of friends.
According to a global survey, about 33 percent of adults experienced feelings of loneliness worldwide. Brazil had the highest percentage of people experiencing this, with 50 percent of respondents declaring that they felt lonely either often, always, or sometimes.
Research suggests older adults are the most likely demographic to experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation. By numbers, one in four Australian adults experience feelings of loneliness.
The Australian rate (24%) is similar to those of other English-speaking countries, which all have rates ranging from 22% (New Zealand) to 29% (the UK). Scandinavia has the highest rates of living alone, ranging from 39% in Denmark to 49% in Sweden.
A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) points out that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated.
We all feel lonely from time to time. Feelings of loneliness are personal, so everyone's experience of loneliness will be different. One common description of loneliness is the feeling we get when our need for rewarding social contact and relationships is not met. But loneliness is not always the same as being alone.
New data from Morning Consult commissioned by Cigna, finds that more than half of U.S. adults (58%) are considered lonely.
Young people feel loneliness the most
The BBC Loneliness Experiment surveyed 55,000 people and showed that 16–24-year-olds feel loneliness the most.
Australia is a large country, which can lead to feeling isolated. This is because the country's major cities are spread far apart, making it difficult to leave your town for a day, or even a weekend trip. If you enjoy living abroad for the travel opportunities, Australia may not be right for you.
In a 1950 copy of Meanjin, Phillips used the term 'cultural cringe' to define the penchant for Australians to see their artists and writers' work as inferior to anything from overseas, Britain and the United States in particular. As a consequence, many Australians in the cultural field spent time or moved overseas.
Over 8 million (about 32%) Australians reported that they had been diagnosed with a long-term health condition, with 2.2 million (about 9%) reporting a Mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) (ABS 2022b).
Physical activity in Australia
more than half (55%) of adults do not meet the physical activity guidelines. 2 in 3 (70%) children aged 2 to 17 do not meet the guidelines. only 3 in 10 pregnant women meet the guidelines. only 2% of teenagers aged 13 to 17 meet the guidelines.
The second-best country for introverts is Australia, which has just three people per square kilometre and high annual salaries (but with higher rents and slightly patchier wifi than in Canada). The third best is Iceland (with a cosy four humans per square kilometre), followed by Russia (nine) and Finland (16).
Kiwirrkurra Community, Western Australia
The Kiwirrkurra Community is known as the most remote in the country and is located in the Gibson Desert, nearly 530 miles west of Alice Springs and over 745 miles west of Port Hedland.
Feeling lonely is a normal, human experience. You can feel lonely when you're by yourself or even when you're in a room full of people. When you don't feel connected with anyone or you feel like no one understands you, you might feel as though you are completely alone even if you're around friends or family.
Lonely individuals tend to have a pessimistic general outlook: they are more negative than are individuals who are not lonely about the people, events, and circumstances in their lives, and they tend to blame themselves for not being able to achieve satisfactory social relationships.
Here are the top three things contributing to Gen Z's loneliness. Our preoccupation has skyrocketed in recent years. We are all distracted. We are distracted by work, house chores, progress, social media, the activities of today, the commitments of tomorrow, and then relieving the stress from it all.
The reason you have no friends may be because you are shy, uncomfortable interacting with others, or simply don't go places that would lead to meeting new people. You don't have friends may have a lot to do with your mindset.
Spend time doing activities you enjoy.
Having fun solo is completely possible--just take time out of your day to pursue the activities you enjoy. Maybe you love writing, hiking, or painting. Doing something you love can boost your mood and help you get to know yourself a little better.
Remind yourself it isn't permanent
However overwhelming it feels, loneliness won't last forever. Acknowledging that fact can sometimes bring some relief. Know also that the feeling is widespread , so you're not alone in feeling this way.
While being alone and feeling alone are not the same thing, the effect on longevity is similar. The BYU study found that social isolation and living alone were even more harmful to a person's health than feelings of loneliness, increasing mortality risk by 29% and 32%, respectively.
The causes of loneliness are not well understood. On a societal level, digital media use may explain increased loneliness in adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to increased loneliness around the world. Many lonely people desire to make friends but feel unable to do so.
Some of the most common causes of loneliness include: Social Anxiety, Isolation, Difficulty with Assertiveness, and Poor Self-awareness. Common types or forms of loneliness include: Lack of Physical Connection, Lack of Common Interests, Lack of Shared Values, Lack of Emotional Intimacy, and Lack of Self-Intimacy.