Why young Aussies are more lonely, isolated than older adults

IT’S often thought that young Australians are having the time of their lives, but a new study suggests they are more lonely, isolated and socially anxious than older adults. And social media could be the reason why.

IT’S often thought young ­Australians are having the time of their lives, but a new study suggests they are more lonely, isolated and socially anxious than older adults.

Nearly two-thirds of those aged 18 to 25 feel they lack companionship at times, compared to less than half of those aged over 65, a study of 1600 Australians by the Australian Psychological Society and Swinburne University of Technology shows.

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Over-65s are the least lonely of all Australians and report better physical and mental health, less depression and less social anxiety.

Lead author Swinburne University research fellow ­Michelle Lim said social ­anxiety was often “driven by fear of negative evaluation and fear about what people think of them”.

A study shows young Australians are lonelier and more isolated than older adults. Picture: iStock

While she acknowledged the high use of social media among teenagers and young adults, Dr Lim said it wasn’t a direct cause of loneliness.

“There is a lot of judgment about the time young people spend on social media,” Dr Lim said. “But it depends on whether it is used to benefit face-to-face interaction or avoid it.”

She said older Australian men in particular were very happy when they first retired before the impact of ill health, financial issues or bereavement began to affect them.

“They’ve got more life experience, more wisdom and more strength than people give them credit for,” she said.

The Australian Loneliness Report, released ahead of Psychology Week 2018, shows one in four people are lonely and more than half feel they lack companionship.

It shows a fifth of Australians find it ­difficult to talk to an attractive member of the opposite sex and those who are married are less lonely compared to those who are single, separated or ­divorced.

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Despite this, Australians say they are close to their ­families, with more than a third seeing or hearing from three to four relatives at least once a month.

One in four sees at least one relative a few times a week.

But neighbours are more of a problem, with nearly half saying they have no neighbour they can call on for help.

The Australian Psychological Society is hosting a live event in Melbourne’s Federation Square on Saturday from 10am to midday, where ­members of the public can talk to psychologists for free about improving their social ­connections.

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