Yenihayat, A., Bertolotti, M., Bonanomi, A., & Catellani, P. (2026). Unpacking loneliness in Europe: Psychosocial and sociodemographic correlates across regions. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
Perceived loneliness is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes.
Using data from the EU Loneliness Survey, we conducted a path analysis to examine direct and indirect associations between key structural and psychological antecedents of loneliness, and whether these associations differ across European regions. We explored the relationships among sociodemographic factors, health perception, multiple dimensions of social connection, and loneliness. We also tested whether these associations were moderated by macro-level contextual differences, comparing four European regions (Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe).
Results indicated that face-to-face connection, digital connection, and perceived social support were protective against loneliness, whereas social media use was associated with higher loneliness. The effects of sociodemographic characteristics on loneliness were mediated primarily by perceived social support and, to a lesser extent, by health perception, with smaller but significant indirect pathways through face-to-face and digital connections. The effect of digital connection varied by region: it significantly reduced loneliness in Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe, but not in Northern Europe. Social media use was associated with higher loneliness in all regions, with the highest levels in Northern Europe.
Overall, these findings suggest that while some protective resources are universal, the benefits of social connection and the risks of social media use vary depending on regional contexts.