The relationship between loneliness and health
The link between loneliness and health has been extensively documented in scientific literature. Increasingly, loneliness is considered a public health problem and concern has amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. A clear understanding of the association between loneliness and mortality and morbidity is needed to judge the extent of loneliness as a public health challenge and the need for interventions. This report summarizes evidence from the academic literature on the link between loneliness and health, addressing the following queries: Is loneliness associated with worse health outcomes? What are the mechanisms by which this may happen? And conversely, can being in bad health impact social connection and loneliness?
BAARCK Julia;
KOVACIC Matija;
Baarck, J. and Kovacic, M., The relationship between loneliness and health, EUR 31155 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022, ISBN 978-92-76-55055-6, doi:10.2760/90915, JRC129972.
2022-08-04
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC129972
978-92-76-55055-6 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 31155 EN,
OP KJ-NA-31155-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC129972,
10.2760/90915 (online),
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