Almost 11 million people in Francethis is 20% of the population over the age of 15they feel lonely and 80% of them suffer from loneliness, according to a study published today on this subject world loneliness day.

Even “intense social life“does not protect against feelings of loneliness,” according to a report published by an independent charity. Fond de France.

Thus, even among people who are part of at least two “socialization networks” (by “network” we mean relatives who do not live in the same house, friends, neighbors, work colleagues or club members) who feel lonely, it reaches 17%.

Some are even “objectively surrounded by people, but consider the quality and nature of their relationship insufficient or even a source of pain.”

The poorer a person, the more fragile his social ties, emphasize the authors of a study based on a sample of 3,400 Internet users, as well as personal interviews.

Those who do housework (mostly women) or do not have higher education are also more likely to feel isolated because “domestic work as a full-time job reinforces the feeling of alienation from society” and “unskilled activities (…) bring little added value to relationships “.

Loneliness also affects single parents to a greater extent (often single mothers) or people who lived or still live in collective institutions (such as nursing homes or prisons).

This phenomenon may be exacerbated by the difficulties that some, such as the elderly, face when working with modern digital tools.

At the same time, however, this can be exacerbated by “overexposure” on social media: “Carol has 282 friends, 221 followers, 325 professional contacts, but there is no one to accompany her in difficult times,” the association of specialists summarizes. Astre in this report.

People themselves sometimes find it difficult to admit their problem: “It’s hard to call yourself lonely,” said Elizabeth, a 57-year-old divorced and unemployed woman who participated in the study. To encourage them to “seek help,” the authors of the study urged “get rid of the stigmatization of loneliness.”

AFP