Study finds urban loneliness exceeds rural levels in England
Researchers at Imperial College London surveyed 135,725 adults aged 16 and older online across five months in 2023 and found that almost one in six adults reported feeling lonely often or always, while more than one in five frequently felt left out or isolated. Loneliness clustered in urban centres including London, Birmingham and Manchester, and 44% of respondents said the pandemic increased their loneliness, with 48.2% saying isolation rose. The study highlights public health implications, cautions about sampling bias and ethnic representation, and urges community-level responses to reduce health burdens.
Almost one in six adults reported feeling lonely often or always.
Context
Researchers ran an online survey of 135,725 adults in England in 2023. They found many people reported frequent loneliness and higher rates in major cities. The study suggests public health steps could strengthen community connections and…
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