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Our Research

Through expert-led research, laya healthcare have identified loneliness as a key factor in mental and physical health decline among people in Ireland. To ensure we are keeping you a beat ahead, we are working to help highlight the issue so we can all face it together, as one.  Further research was undertaken by laya in June 2024* to get an understanding of the state of the nation, to understand the health issue and how we can help with a potential solution(s). This was supported by loneliness experts and the aim was to find out more about loneliness in Ireland and its impact on society, and possible solutions that can help alleviate feelings of loneliness.  

Through the course of our research, we learned that our respondents strongly believed that being a part of a sporting community may be a solution to loneliness, probably by supporting sustainable social connection and a sense of belonging. One way to do this is through the rugby community. Whether you’re a flirt or fanatic, a club player or valued volunteer, rugby is a touchstone. It offers us a way to experience unity and togetherness – right when we may need it most. As the proud Health and Wellbeing Partner for Connacht, Leinster, and Munster Rugby, laya are committed to harnessing the collective power of these communities to help address the issue of loneliness in Ireland. 

Laya has worked with loneliness experts, including Dr Joanna McHugh Power (BA, PhD) an academic psychologist and associate professor with 15 years' experience working on the topics of social isolation and loneliness. Dr McHugh Power has contributed to what we know about loneliness at national and international levels, with over 70 peer-reviewed publications.  
As part of laya’s commitment to help address loneliness and the stigma that surrounds it for people in Ireland, we’ve developed the below articles with Dr Joanna McHugh Power. These concern the topics: What is loneliness? When are the lonely times in life? What to do if you feel lonely? 

We are one. Always.

1.8 million adults in Ireland suffer from loneliness

Lonely seasons of life

Usually when we feel lonely, it passes pretty quickly. That is known as transient loneliness, a feeling that comes and goes. Loneliness only becomes a longer-term problem in some cases. It’s important to remember that loneliness is a very common experience which we will all feel at some stage in our lives (for more on “How to tell if you’re feeling lonely” - See here). It’s easy to think that we may only feel lonely at very specific times in our lives - for instance, when we are older. Indeed, recent research commissioned by laya showed that 91% of people surveyed believed that older people are lonely, while only 47% of the same group thought that young people become lonely. In fact, when loneliness was measured using a well-validated psychometric scale, those aged under 44 had the highest levels of loneliness of all groups surveyed! This pattern of findings is similar to those found in international research about loneliness. Loneliness appears to be more common among young people than among older people.  

Who gets lonely?     


While being young may make us more likely to feel loneliness, we can of course become lonely during any life stage. There are certain situations that are more likely to make us feel lonely. The research recently commissioned by laya indicates that, similar to previously published research, loneliness strikes us more when we are alone at home. Among the 18-44 year olds who took part in this study, loneliness was seen as being caused by feeling disconnected from others; not having enough close friends or family around; feeling social anxiety; and having a lack of social activities to engage in. More generally, we know that both mental and physical health problems can cause loneliness, and certain personalities can also be more likely to experience loneliness. Even our genetics may influence how likely we are to feel lonely!  

Ultimately, though, loneliness usually related to the quality of our social relationships – our marital status, who we live with, and the relationships we have with the people around us drive loneliness. These aspects of our social lives are closely linked with loneliness at all ages. Researchers also believe that our environment can be key in causing loneliness - where we live and work can make it easy or difficult to socialise and meet new and existing friends. Investment in sport, recreation and culture is vital to support the continued growth of this sector, which will in turn have an knock on positive impact on the issue of loneliness in Ireland. The weather probably doesn’t help either!

Managing lonely seasons - can sport help?

We are more likely to feel lonely at times of flux and change in our lives. We all have memories of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, of course. But even more routine change can lead to loneliness. For instance, starting college or university, changing jobs, becoming a parent, or moving neighbourhood or country can all lead to feelings of loneliness. This is why it’s so critical to have ways of connecting with other people that remain consistent at times of change; sport can be one of these solutions. Keeping in touch with old friends, showing up at training, going to or watching matches and being part of a sports club are all examples of things we can try to keep consistent when other situations around us are changing. For more on ways to manage and avoid loneliness see here.  

 

Loneliness

We are one. Always.

Laya healthcare, in partnership with Connacht, Leinster and Munster Rugby, is proud to launch a series of initiatives called 'We are One', aimed at addressing loneliness in Ireland. These initiatives will include supporter event catch ups, programmes to encourage former new fans to attend game and much more. We are working alongside the provinces to positively impact this issue and we invite you to join us in our mission to combat loneliness.

For a lot of people loneliness comes from a lack of social connection. Together with the provinces we are proud to continue to build the rugby community as a welcoming and inclusive one. Our initiatives are based on the insight that most people believe sport can be a powerful way to combat loneliness.

Learn More

*Findings based on nationally representative study of 1000 people commissioned by laya healthcare and completed by Spark Research, June 2024. Population figures of CSO population statistics for June 2024.