Loneliness in Europe

This open-access book accompanies the release of EU-LS micro-data and offers insights into the survey's design and execution. Loneliness, often referred to as the 'epidemic of the twenty-first century,' has emerged as a grave public health concern. For years, a lack of comprehensive data hindered a thorough examination of this issue. In 2022, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre conducted the inaugural European Loneliness Survey (EU-LS), surveying over 30,000 individuals across 27 European nations.

The book goes on to present the survey results from various European countries, shedding light on who is most affected by loneliness, identifying contributing experiences and behaviors, addressing the stigmatization of loneliness, and discussing its societal impact. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of interventions to combat loneliness. Additionally, the book discusses the challenges of survey design and offers valuable insights into the future of monitoring loneliness in Europe. This makes the book a must-read for scholars and academics interested in population economics, public health, and social well-being.