Almost half of Australia’s male population is experiencing loneliness according to new research, with the country facing epidemic numbers that can be as damaging as smoking, obesity and some cancers on men’s health.
Feelings of isolation were not secluded to one age group either.
According to a national survey conducted by Healthy Male, 43% of Australian men are lonely, with high levels of loneliness reported by more than one in six men (16%) overall.
One in four (24%) men aged 35-49 reported feeling a high level of loneliness, in men aged 50-64 years it’s 12.1%, and 6% of men aged 65 and over admitting to feeling loneliness.
The new research highlights worrying loneliness levels in Australian men, inspiring Healthy Male to tackle the issue during this year’s Men’s Health Week, Monday 12 to Sunday 18 June.
Healthy Male CEO Simon von Saldern said the survey results added another element to the overall picture of male health in Australia.
“This survey was part of a wider study, and we were really surprised by what we saw — we asked these questions, but we were not expecting such a high level of loneliness,” he said.
The group hopes to use this year’s Men’s Health Week to educate those most highly affected, offering key tips on what an individual can do to recognise and address loneliness.
It seems Australia is not the only nation with a men’s loneliness epidemic.
The US Surgeon General recently released a report on loneliness in the USA entitled ‘Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation’ and both Japan and Great Britain are addressing the issue with a Minister for Loneliness in the UK and the Minister for Loneliness and Isolation in Japan being appointed.
The survey also revealed a link between feeling lonely and men’s health behaviour.
Aside from the high prevalence of loneliness in Australian men, the study outlined further concerns:
Generations of healthy Australian men with a high level of loneliness are more likely than others to have poor physical and mental health, after adjustment for variables like age, socio-demographics and relationship status.
Men with a high level of loneliness are also less likely than others to have positive attitudes toward preventive health behaviours; including healthy eating, disease screening and undergoing regular health checks.
50% of men who are not lonely recognise the importance of a yearly GP checkup, whereas only 35% of men who are very lonely see it as important.
Low health literacy in men is linked to loneliness.
The survey also highlighted an issue with health literacy — the ability to access and understand health information, to use information for disease prevention, or to use health services — in men experiencing loneliness.
The results showed the percentage of Australian men who can adequately find and use health information is profoundly lower in very lonely males (48.1%) compared to those with low moderate levels of loneliness (71.6%).
“The figures are concerning,” Mr von Saldern said.
“There are a lot of questions still to be answered, as we don’t know how and why loneliness is affecting men’s help health-seeking behaviour, so more needs to be done to investigate the issue of loneliness in Australian men.”
For more health stories:
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- Grants bring GPs to bush but its not enough
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