This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Australians are becoming increasingly lonely and socially isolated, according to new University of Sydney research that found rates of social isolation nearly doubled over the past 23 years. Loneliness rates also increased over time, though more gradually than social isolation, with the sharpest impacts observed among vulnerable populations.
Published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the study examined 23 years of nationally representative HILDA (Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia) data from 2001 to 2023. This longitudinal analysis provides some of the first long-term national evidence on trends in loneliness and social isolation in Australia. Social isolation describes an objective state of limited social contact, social engagement or meaningful relationships, whereas loneliness is the subjective perception that one's actual social relationships fall short of those desired.
Neta Hagani, honorary adjunct affiliate from the School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Center at the University of Sydney, said, "Concerns about Australians becoming more disconnected have grown in recent years, yet there has been little national-level evidence showing whether loneliness or social isolation is actually increasing. "Our study showed that social isolation has increased substantially in Australia over the past two decades, nearly doubling from 16.9% in 2001 to 29.9% in 2023. Loneliness showed a more moderate increase overall, from 6.3% to 8.4%, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
"We found that younger adults experienced some of the most substantial increases in loneliness, while older adults consistently had the highest levels of social isolation and experienced sizable increases over time. "The data also revealed that loneliness and social isolation were consistently more common among people who were unemployed, lived in more socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, were widowed, lived alone or had lower levels of education. "The findings suggest that Australians are having fewer social connections and interactions than in previous years.
Although increases in feelings of loneliness have been comparatively modest, loneliness is still on the rise. This distinction is important because social isolation and loneliness are related but different experiences, and both are associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes." Senior author Professor Melody Ding from the Sydney School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Center said social connection should be viewed as a public health issue, not merely a personal one. "The findings highlight that certain groups, particularly young adults, older adults, unemployed people and people living in disadvantaged areas, may need additional support to maintain meaningful social connections.
There are no signs of closing the gap, and in most cases, there seems to be a trend toward widening gaps. "The results also suggest that broader social and structural factors, such as employment, housing, living arrangements, community participation and neighborhood disadvantage, play an important role in shaping social connection across the population. The widening social inequalities Australia has experienced in the past two decades may have contributed to worsening social connections as well.
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