ArticleSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2022
Prevalence and correlates of loneliness, perceived and objective social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence from a representative survey in Germany.
Article in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 39 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence of loneliness and social isolation amongst individuals with severe mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences · 2025Pooled it
- The Applicability of Forest Therapy for Socially Isolated Young Adults: Parallel Changes in Psychological Distress and Mindfulness.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Does alleviating depression reduce loneliness? A longitudinal study.Indian journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Changes in older employees' willingness to utilise digital health promotion and prevention programmes during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Beyond words: the association of hugging with loneliness, social isolation, and social withdrawal. Evidence from the general adult population in Germany based on a cross-sectional survey.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- On the Association of Community Belonging With Over Time Changes in Self-Rated Health and Mental Health Since the COVID-19 Pandemic.The International journal of health planning and management · 2026Article
- Laughing During Conversations, But Not in Response to Digital Media, Is Associated With Less Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Social Withdrawal: A Cross-Sectional Study of German Adults in 2023.Health science reports · 2025Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antidepressant consumption in the Central region of Portugal: interrupted time series.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2025Article
- Disutility associated with social isolation and loneliness in Germany: results of a population survey using the EQ-5D-5L instrument.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2024Article
- [Migration background and loneliness among middle-aged and older adults in Germany].Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz · 2024Article
- Social connectedness in older Urban African-American adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: the roles of education and partnership.Aging & mental health · 2024Article
- Social isolation in the oldest-old: determinants and the differential role of family and friends.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2024Article
- Prevalence and determinants of loneliness among the oldest old living in institutionalized settings : Study findings from a representative survey.Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie · 2024Article
- Is loneliness associated with cancellation of medical appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from the Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS).BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Neighbourhood cohesion, loneliness and perceived social isolation prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Longitudinal evidence from the German Ageing Survey.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2023Article
- Social confrontation stress decreases hepatic fibroblast growth factor-21 expression in aged mice.Biochemistry and biophysics reports · 2023Article
- Loneliness and Social Isolation among Transgender and Gender Diverse People.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- A two-mediator serial mediation chain of the association between social isolation and impaired sleep in old age.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Personality-related and psychosocial correlates of sick leave days in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings of a representative survey.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2022Article
- Predictors of Loneliness among Homeless Individuals in Germany during the COVID-19 Pandemic.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeOur aim was to identify the prevalence and correlates of loneliness, perceived and objective social isolation in the German population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
methodsData were taken from a representative survey with n = 3075 individuals (18-70 years; August/September 2021). Valid measures were used to quantify the outcomes (loneliness: De Jong Gierveld scale; perceived social isolation: Bude/Lantermann tool; objective social isolation: Lubben Social Network Scale). Multiple logistic regressions were used to identify the correlates of these three outcomes.
resultsThe prevalence of loneliness was 83.4%, the prevalence of perceived social isolation was 59.1% and the prevalence of objective social isolation was 28.9%. The prevalence rate significantly differed between the subgroups (e.g., the prevalence of perceived social isolation was 73.9% among individuals aged 18-29 years, whereas it was 48.8% among individuals aged 60-70 years). In regression analysis, several correlates of these outcomes were identified (e.g., marital status, age group (with changing signs), migration background, sports activities, or self-rated health).
conclusionOur study particularly identified very to extraordinarily high prevalence rates for social isolation and loneliness, respectively. Knowledge about the correlates (e.g., age group) may help to address these individuals during the ongoing pandemic.
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