More and more French people do not have social relations, a phenomenon which has not stopped growing since 2010. This is the sad assessment of the Fondation de France, an organization which acts against loneliness through a major project. restoration of social ties. 5 million French people suffer from it, “a time bomb” according to Francis Charhon, director of the organization, knowing that one in three French people risks becoming alone.
The survey was carried out by the TMO Régions research institute for the Observatory of the Fondation de France by telephone in January, among 4,007 people aged 18 and over. It is based on the five social networks: family, professional, friendly, affinity or neighborhood.
Elderly people living in cities affected, but also young people
Of all the generations, those aged 75 and over have been the most impacted by the rise in loneliness in France: 1 in 4 elderly people is alone (27% in 2014 against 16% in 2010). But the foundation’s report also reveals a loneliness growing among the youngest, since the phenomenon now affects 18-29 year olds and those in their thirties, loneliness has doubled in four years (7% in 2014 against 3% in 2010).
According to the survey, the phenomenon has increased in large cities. Thus, 33% of the elderly residing in a city of more than 100,000 inhabitants are in a situation of isolation, against 21% for those residing in a rural municipality.
Unemployment and poverty cut the social link
Several factors would explain these conclusions. First of all, the study underlines a “weakening of the large local networks”. Four in ten French people (39%) have no contact with their family beyond a few annual meetings. One in four French people do not have sustained friendly relations and, strangely, nearly four in ten have little or no contact with their neighbors (36% in 2014 against 31% in 2010).
While loss of autonomy and illness are determining factors in loneliness among seniors, unemployment and poverty cut the social link in the working population. Almost one in three French people has only one network. Insufficient to maintain a social life, estimates the Foundation.
And contrary to popular belief, virtual networks do not compensate for this great loneliness. 80% of people in objective isolation do not attend them.
