Context: Loneliness, as a societal malaise, is often rarely acknowledged but is finding a prominent place on the global governance agenda.
Problem of Loneliness
Definition: discrepancy between an individual’s desired and achieved levels of social relationships.
Global problem: 33% in the UK, 50% in the USA and 47.5% elderly in India accept that they are lonely.
Recently Japan and UK have appointed a designated loneliness minister.
Impacts different age groups: children, women, younger and older people face isolation and increasing suicide rates.
Causes and types of Loneliness:
Social isolation: lack of social contact and get-togethers due to Work From Home, telework, and remote work induces stress and Loneliness. (majorly due to pandemic)
Social isolation is quantitative isolation (measured by the size of social network and frequency of contacts), whereas Loneliness is qualitative.
The National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly and the National Institute on Ageing says that approximately 23% of the elderly in India stay alone, without children.
Socioeconomic and cultural factors: such as migration, interpersonal conflicts, accidents, and disasters, leads to situational Loneliness.
Psychological: internal perception of being alone due to low self-esteem and self-worth and poor coping with adverse situations lead to internal Loneliness.
Lack of companionship and feeling of being left out was reported by 62.5% and 58.7%.
Rising individualism: and desire for intimacy leads to developmental Loneliness. About 5% of individuals reportedly felt isolated from others.
Way Forward
Strengthen social contact: because governmental interventions through funds and enabling system of help alone cannot repair the frayed fabric of society.
Technology-based support: the internet, which is seen as a source of isolation for young people, can be a solution for the older generation.