Madrid (EFE).- Almost 40% of people who suffer from unwanted loneliness are young, a figure that doubles that of those over 65, according to a study by the State Observatory that puts a figure on the annual cost in Spain of address these situations: 14,141 million euros, 1.17% of the Gross Domestic Product of 2021.
This is the first study that measures the costs of unwanted loneliness, which reaches 13.4% of the population -more women- and with an average of 6 years in this situation, with negative effects on physical and mental health. and the quality of life of the people who suffer from it, but also with economic effects.
The investigation of the State Observatory of Unwanted Loneliness (SoledadES) evaluates expenses such as medical consultations, drug use, productivity losses, reduced quality of life and premature deaths associated with unwanted loneliness.
38.4 percent of people between the ages of 16 and 34 live with it, a figure that rises to 51.6 if that age range is extended to 44 years; 20% of those over 65 have this feeling (especially from 75, which reaches 12.2), 13.2% between 35 to 44 and 12.1% between 45 to 54 years.
It affects women more, 14.8%, compared to 12.1% of men, highlighted the researcher Bruno Casal in the presentation this Monday of the study.
The main reason: the lack of coexistence or family or social support declared by 57.3% of those surveyed (more than 4,000) who were asked questions about suffering from loneliness and its causes.