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Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from five European countries

Author

Listed:
  • Alessio Rebechi

    (uni.lu - Université du Luxembourg = University of Luxembourg = Universität Luxemburg)

  • Anthony Lepinteur

    (uni.lu - Université du Luxembourg = University of Luxembourg = Universität Luxemburg)

  • Andrew E. Clark

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, uni.lu - Université du Luxembourg = University of Luxembourg = Universität Luxemburg)

  • Nicholas Rohde

    (Griffith University [Brisbane])

  • Claus Vögele

    (uni.lu - Université du Luxembourg = University of Luxembourg = Universität Luxemburg)

  • Conchita D’ambrosio

    (uni.lu - Université du Luxembourg = University of Luxembourg = Universität Luxemburg)

Abstract

We use quarterly panel data from the COME-HERE survey covering five European countries to analyse three facets of the experience of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, in terms of prevalence, loneliness peaked in April 2020, followed by a U-shape pattern in the rest of 2020, and then remained relatively stable throughout 2021 and 2022. We then establish the individual determinants of loneliness and compare them to those found in the literature predating the COVID-19 pandemic. As in previous work, women are lonelier, and partnership, education, income, and employment protect against loneliness. However, the pandemic substantially shifted the age profile: it is now the youngest who are the loneliest. We last show that pandemic policies affected loneliness, which rose with containment policies but fell with government economic support. Conversely, the intensity of the pandemic itself, via the number of recent COVID-19 deaths, had only a minor impact. The experience of the pandemic has thus shown that public policy can influence societal loneliness trends.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessio Rebechi & Anthony Lepinteur & Andrew E. Clark & Nicholas Rohde & Claus Vögele & Conchita D’ambrosio, 2024. "Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from five European countries," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-04816465, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:pseptp:halshs-04816465
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2024.101427
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    Keywords

    Loneliness; COVID-19; COME-HERE; Age; Pandemic policies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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