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Economic Aspects of Loneliness in Australia
Author(s) -
Kung Claryn S. J.,
Kunz Johannes S.,
Shields Michael A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australian economic review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1467-8462
pISSN - 0004-9018
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8462.12414
Subject(s) - loneliness , psychological intervention , mental health , socioeconomic status , social isolation , health care , psychology , public health , isolation (microbiology) , inequality , sociology , gerontology , medicine , economic growth , environmental health , social psychology , psychiatry , nursing , economics , population , mathematical analysis , mathematics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
We highlight the problem of loneliness, and argue that it is not only a public health issue but also an economic problem. We provide a brief review of findings from the key literature on the associations between loneliness, mental and physical health, and healthcare costs; and then present some evidence on its trends, the extent of socioeconomic inequalities and its links with health and healthcare usage, in Australia. We hope to encourage further economics research on loneliness, and related issues of social isolation and poor social support, to aid the design of policies and interventions to reduce loneliness.