Australian research finds effects of loneliness during Covid lockdowns ‘substantial and uneven’

"Everyone became withdrawn, even after restrictions ended," one man said of his experience following Australia's pandemic lockdowns.

New research has found that lockdown loneliness has, for many people, lingered. Even though most restrictions have been lifted, social networks that were disrupted by the pandemic haven't been stitched back together in the same way.

The University of Wollongong and the University of Sydney study, released on Friday, also found there is a "loneliness gap". Those who were the least lonely going into the pandemic bounced back; their loneliness passed, while the loneliest became even lonelier.

That residual loneliness was higher for people on low incomes, those who lacked strong ties before Covid, people with disabilities and their carers. And experts warn that loneliness increases the chance of poor health outcomes, from early death to anxiety, depression and even dementia.

The research, published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues, defined loneliness as "a discrepancy between desired and available relationships, or a lack of quality relationships that provide meaningful interaction and support".

It collected responses from the 2020 lockdowns onwards for 2,605 participants and found the impacts of the pandemic lasted beyond the various "freedom days" when lockdowns were lifted.

"Participants reported heightened loneliness attributable to: physical isolation, health anxieties, ceased activities, reduced connection quality, and poor motivation," the study found.