Loneliness is often seen as an issue mainly affecting older people – this belief is quite widespread, but it seems that it can no longer be asserted about Germany.
According to recently published results from a study conducted by the public opinion research institute Forsa on behalf of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) health insurance fund, 60% of residents of Germany are generally familiar with the feeling of loneliness.
However, frequent loneliness is experienced by only 4% of respondents. While this may not seem like a large number, nearly 70% of people aged 18 to 39 reported that this issue is familiar to them. More than a third of respondents in this age group are significantly or very significantly troubled by loneliness, while among older people, only about one-fifth reported the same. There’s also another noteworthy aspect: the topic of loneliness is taboo in German society, and people are reluctant to discuss it.
According to the TK study, men tend to hide their feelings – only 20% of those who are familiar with loneliness ever talk about it with others, even occasionally. Among women, about 40% do the same. Loneliness is far from harmless. As Jens Baas, the CEO of TK, says, chronic loneliness in the long term can lead to mental health disorders and negatively impact physical health.
