The survey by pollster CBOS revealed that loneliness is most prevalent among individuals aged 18 to 34, those living in large urban areas, and those with higher incomes.
In contrast, individuals aged 45 to 54 report the lowest levels of loneliness.
The study, conducted between August 14 and 25, involved a representative sample of 939 adult Poles.
It is CBOS's first survey of social bonds in seven years and highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, digitization and the rise of social media on interpersonal relationships.
This comprehensive study sheds light on the complexity of loneliness in Poland and underscores the need for targeted interventions to address its various underlying factors.
Twice as many Poles report feeling lonely compared to 2017
The findings show that while Poles generally prefer spending their free time with family and friends—a trend unchanged over the past seven years—the proportion of those experiencing frequent or constant loneliness has doubled.
Currently, 8 percent of adults report feeling lonely "very often" or "always," up from 4 percent in 2017.
The study identifies several groups particularly vulnerable to loneliness. Young adults aged 18 to 34 report the highest levels of frequent or constant loneliness, with 12–13 percent affected, followed by seniors aged 75 and older at 10 percent.
Students are the most affected group, with 17 percent experiencing loneliness "very often" or "always."
Residents of large and very large cities are also more likely to feel lonely, with 17 percent and 12 percent respectively, reporting frequent loneliness.
Education level plays a role as well, with individuals holding primary or lower secondary education and those with higher education reporting similar levels of loneliness, at 10 percent and 9 percent respectively.
Loneliness is more prevalent among single individuals, with 16 percent affected, compared to just 4 percent for married people. Household size also influences loneliness levels: those living alone report higher rates (18 percent) than individuals in households of four or more (2 percent).
Economic factors are closely tied to feelings of loneliness. Individuals who assess their material conditions poorly are significantly more likely to feel lonely, with 21 percent affected, compared to 9 percent of those who rate their conditions as average and 6 percent who view them as good.
Interestingly, those with higher incomes—earning at least PLN 6,000 (around EUR 1,400, USD 1,450) per household member—are also more prone to loneliness, with 17 percent affected.
Political orientation and religious practice further influence feelings of loneliness. People with left-leaning political views report higher levels of loneliness (14 percent), as do individuals who do not practice religion (15 percent).
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP