New survey reveals heartbreaking number of Australians who will spend Christmas alone
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For most families around the globe, celebrating Christmas means reuniting with loved ones to enjoy the festivities.
However, a recent survey has revealed that a heartbreaking number of Aussies will be spending Christmas alone, shining a light on the nation's loneliness crisis.
The study, commissioned by the Red Cross, surveyed 1000 Australians about how they are feeling ahead of the holiday season.
Results revealed that although 74 per cent of respondents said that they had plans for Christmas, 1 in 5 people over 70 — retirees and those living alone — will be spending Christmas by themselves.
A new study reveals that 1 in 5 senior Australians will be spending Christmas alone. Credit: Justin Paget/Getty Images.
Red Cross Volunteering Director Penny Harrison said that people should reach out to check in on one another to make sure that they're doing OK during the festivities.
Ms Harrison said: “Pick up the phone and reconnect with someone you haven’t spoken to this year or check in on a neighbour who lives alone.”
The charitable organisation — which conducts social support calls throughout the year — said that they are expecting to call around 2700 people on Christmas Day, claiming that for many of those people, their call would be the only conversation they would have that day.
Loneliest Australians revealed
Except for seniors, the results revealed that women and younger people feel the loneliest for the upcoming holidays — a result that is not surprising since a year of lockdowns and restrictions caused these demographic groups to isolate themselves.
The study revealed that women and younger people feel the loneliest. Credit: Getty Images.
Ms Harrison said: “It’s also apparent that younger people are worried about possible border closures keeping them from family and friends.”
The survey found that 36 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 years old cite border closures as a concern, pointing out that this age group has been the most affected by COVID restrictions.
It was also revealed that that group was the loneliest, given that 44 per cent of them said that they are experiencing loneliness compared to 33 per cent of all respondents who admitted their lonesome holidays.
Additionally, a similar percentage said that the upcoming festivities made them feel much lonelier; a 15 per cent increase from last year's recorded data.
Women were reported to be much lonelier than men with 40 per cent of the women surveyed revealing that they feel isolated compared with 26 per cent of men.
The SDC is a platform for seniors to keep in touch with one another. Should you feel lonely these upcoming holidays, please don't hesitate to reach out to us and other members either on this forum or by emailing us at [email protected]!
However, a recent survey has revealed that a heartbreaking number of Aussies will be spending Christmas alone, shining a light on the nation's loneliness crisis.
The study, commissioned by the Red Cross, surveyed 1000 Australians about how they are feeling ahead of the holiday season.
Results revealed that although 74 per cent of respondents said that they had plans for Christmas, 1 in 5 people over 70 — retirees and those living alone — will be spending Christmas by themselves.
A new study reveals that 1 in 5 senior Australians will be spending Christmas alone. Credit: Justin Paget/Getty Images.
Red Cross Volunteering Director Penny Harrison said that people should reach out to check in on one another to make sure that they're doing OK during the festivities.
Ms Harrison said: “Pick up the phone and reconnect with someone you haven’t spoken to this year or check in on a neighbour who lives alone.”
The charitable organisation — which conducts social support calls throughout the year — said that they are expecting to call around 2700 people on Christmas Day, claiming that for many of those people, their call would be the only conversation they would have that day.
Loneliest Australians revealed
Except for seniors, the results revealed that women and younger people feel the loneliest for the upcoming holidays — a result that is not surprising since a year of lockdowns and restrictions caused these demographic groups to isolate themselves.
The study revealed that women and younger people feel the loneliest. Credit: Getty Images.
Ms Harrison said: “It’s also apparent that younger people are worried about possible border closures keeping them from family and friends.”
The survey found that 36 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 years old cite border closures as a concern, pointing out that this age group has been the most affected by COVID restrictions.
It was also revealed that that group was the loneliest, given that 44 per cent of them said that they are experiencing loneliness compared to 33 per cent of all respondents who admitted their lonesome holidays.
Additionally, a similar percentage said that the upcoming festivities made them feel much lonelier; a 15 per cent increase from last year's recorded data.
Women were reported to be much lonelier than men with 40 per cent of the women surveyed revealing that they feel isolated compared with 26 per cent of men.
The SDC is a platform for seniors to keep in touch with one another. Should you feel lonely these upcoming holidays, please don't hesitate to reach out to us and other members either on this forum or by emailing us at [email protected]!
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