Loneliness is a universal experience that can impact anyone, regardless of age or background. It is not just an individual struggle; its effects extend to families, communities, and society as a whole. As people feel disconnected, their ability to engage fully with others diminishes, affecting both personal and collective well-being. The increasing prevalence of loneliness in today’s fast-paced world underscores the need to address it as a shared concern.

As humans, we inherently seek attachment and social connection from the earliest stages of life and continue this pursuit throughout our existence (Bowlby, 1991). Loneliness can be defined as the subjective experience of a lack of meaningful social relationships, where the number of relationships is irrelevant (Luhmann, 2022). This absence of social interaction goes against our fundamental nature. As such, loneliness affects people differently across various life stages. According to the Bertelsmann Stiftung (2024), loneliness is more prevalent among young adults (18-35), with approximately 57% of this group reporting feelings of loneliness. In contrast, 47% of adults aged 36 to 69 experience loneliness. There is no significant effect of gender or living situation on loneliness. However, educational qualification appears to play a role, with individuals holding higher education credentials reporting lower levels of loneliness. This suggests that factors such as personal development and confidence, which often come with higher education, may play a significant role in weakening feelings of isolation. From the perspective of loneliness, it can be understood that loneliness is strongly connected to lower self-esteem and more depression. When people feel lonely, their sense of self-worth often decreases, and they may experience greater sadness or depression. On the flip side, feeling happier and having a stronger sense of self-esteem can help reduce loneliness. In other words, loneliness can fuel negative feelings about oneself, while having a positive outlook and a healthy self-esteem can help combat these feelings of isolation.” (Türkmen, 2022)

The internet is widely used by many, but it not only consumes a significant amount of our time, it also serves as a predictor for increased loneliness. Regardless of the nature of your support system, social media consistently exerts a negative influence on your well-being. It creates a sense of isolation, making individuals feel more disconnected and lonely, despite the apparent connection it offers. This paradoxical effect of social media highlights its ability to amplify feelings of loneliness, even when surrounded by virtual interactions. (Bonsaksen et al., 2023)

As in Witzel et al. (2024) shown people with higher loneliness reported higher “physical symptom severity”. It is also known that loneliness leads to range of physical consequences, including cognitive impairments such as those seen in Alzheimer’s disease, as well as recurrent stroke and obesity. It can also result in increased vascular resistance and elevated blood pressure. Furthermore, (…) poorer sleep quality, and a weakened immune system. Changes in gene expression (…) are also linked to loneliness. (Cacioppo, Grippo, London, Goossens, & Cacioppo, 2015)

On the mental health side, loneliness is strongly associated with depressive symptoms, alcoholism, and suicidal thoughts. It can also contribute to aggressive behaviors, social anxiety, and impulsivity. (Cacioppo, Grippo, London, Goossens, & Cacioppo, 2015)

Due to our innate social nature, loneliness can have profound consequences when we experience it as individuals. Loneliness not only has consequences for our physical and mental health, but it also risks how our brain functions. Lara et al. (2019) have found that loneliness is associated with „ lower scores in the composite cognitive score, immediate and delayed recall, verbal fluency, and backward digit span “.

Loneliness not only negatively impacts our mental health, but it also takes a toll on our physical well-being and affects how our brain functions.

Literaturverzeichnis

1. Bonsaksen, T., Ruffolo, M., Price, D., Leung, J., Thygesen, H., Lamph, G., Kabelenga, I., & Geirdal, A. Ø. (2023). Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: Do motives for social media use matter? Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089
2. Bowlby, J. (1991). Ethological light on psychoanalytical problems. In The development and integration of behaviour: Essays in honour of Robert Hinde (pp. 301–313).
3. Cacioppo, S., Grippo, A. J., London, S., Goossens, L., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2015). Loneliness: Clinical import and interventions. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 238–249. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691615570616
4. Lara, E., Caballero, F. F., Rico-Uribe, L. A., Olaya, B., Haro, J. M., Ayuso-Mateos, J. L., & Miret, M. (2019). Are loneliness and social isolation associated with cognitive decline? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 34(9), 1405-1414. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5174
5. Luhmann, M. (2022). Definition und Formen der Einsamkeit. https://kompetenznetz-einsamkeit.de/download/2882/
6. Luhmann, M., Schäfer, B., & Steinmayr, R. (2024). Einsamkeit junger Menschen 2024 im europäischen Vergleich. Bertelsmann Stiftung.
7. Türkmen, O. O. (2022). The multiple mediating roles of self-esteem and happiness in the relationship between loneliness and depression in Facebook and Instagram users. Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi = The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 25(1), 23–30. https://doi.org/10.5505/kpd.2022.79663
8. Witzel, D. D., Van Bogart, K., Harrington, E. E., Turner, S. G., & Almeida, D. M. (2024). Loneliness dynamics and physical health symptomology among midlife adults in daily life. Health Psychology, 43(7), 528–538. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001377
9. Bertelsmann Stiftung (2024). Einsamkeit junger Menschen 2024 im europäischen Vergleich. Bertelsmann Stiftung.