Even an “intense social life” does not protect against feelings of loneliness, say the authors of the report released by the independent charity Fondation de France
Almost 11 million people in France, i.e. 20% of the population over the age of 15, feel lonely and 80% of them suffer from loneliness, according to a survey published today on the occasion of World Loneliness Day.
Even an “intense social life” does not protect against feelings of loneliness, say the authors of the report released by the independent charity Fondation de France. Thus, even among people who are part of at least two “social networks” (by “network” is meant relatives who do not live in the same house, friends, neighbors, work colleagues or members of a club) the percentage of those who feel lonely reaches 17%. Some even “are, objectively, surrounded by people but consider the quality and nature of their relationships to be insufficient or even a source of pain.”
The poorer one is, the more fragile one’s social ties are, underline the authors of the study, which was based on the study of a sample of 3,400 internet users as well as personal interviews. Those who work in the household (mostly women) or lack a degree are also more likely to feel isolated because “domestic as a full-time occupation increases the feeling of withdrawal from society” and “low-skill occupations (…) minimal added value to relationships’.
Loneliness also affects single parents (often single mothers) or people who have lived or are still living in collective facilities (for example, welfare institutions or prisons) more.
The phenomenon may be exacerbated by the difficulty that some, such as the elderly, have in operating modern digital tools. At the same time, however, it can be intensified by the “overexposure” on social networking sites: “Carol has 282 friends, 221 followers, 325 professional contacts, but no one to accompany her in a difficult moment”, summarizes the specialized association Astrée, in this report.
People themselves sometimes find it difficult to recognize their problem: “It’s difficult to describe yourself as alone,” said Elizabeth, 57, a divorced and unemployed woman who participated in the research. To encourage them to “seek help,” the study authors urge that “loneliness should be de-stigmatized.”
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