Recent studies show that young people between the ages of 16 and 30 are one of the groups most affected by loneliness worldwide. Together with the Liz Mohn Foundation, we examined how other countries combat youth loneliness. Our new publication provides ten policy recommendations for Germany, which we will present at the Loneliness Congress initiated by Minister-President Hendrik Wüst on June 6, 2024, at the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia.
“Loneliness is a fundamental experience that most people face at some point in their lives. However, for many years, loneliness was a niche topic in research, politics, and the public, primarily discussed in relation to the elderly.”
– Prof. Dr. Maike Luhmann, Ruhr University Bochum
However, during the pandemic, young adults in Germany surpassed the elderly as the most affected group, and they have remained so ever since. Current figures from Germany suggest that this level has not significantly decreased post-pandemic. 46 percent of 16- to 30-year-olds report feeling at least moderately lonely, with 10 percent experiencing severe loneliness. Wie einsam sind junge Erwachsene im Jahr 2024? (bertelsmann-stiftung.de)
Chronic loneliness has serious health and societal consequences: It increases the risk of mental and physical illnesses. Additionally, lonely individuals are more likely to adopt extreme political views and believe in conspiracy theories.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp rise in loneliness, highlighting the urgent need for targeted political measures. In Germany, current strategies to combat loneliness have largely focused on the elderly, a focus that urgently needs to shift to better support the youth.
Our research examines approaches from Finland, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, and South Korea and offers ten recommendations to politically address youth loneliness in Germany.
