A major study published by researchers at Imperial College London shows that one in six adults say they feel lonely with lasting psychological fallout linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Fox News, professors at Imperial College London recruited a total of 135,725 volunteers aged 16 and older to complete an online survey in England throughout a five-month period in 2023.

The SWNS news agency reported that nearly one in six adults reported feeling lonely “often or always” — and more than one in five people said they frequently felt a lack of companionship or had feelings of being left out or isolated.

A study of over 135,000 adults found that a surprising number of individuals feel lonely often — and that some of the loneliest people live in urban areas, shocking the researchers. Not only that — but the COVID pandemic made it worse. https://t.co/g7UDPFt8Xx

— Jean (@Jeanneutral) August 17, 2026

Nearly 44 percent of respondents stated that the pandemic worsened their loneliness, while 48.2 percent reported higher long-term isolation, according to Medical Xpress.

Researchers also found high concentrations of loneliness cluster heavily in major cities, supporting the theory that dense urban environments can paradoxically reduce community connectivity.

Researchers also noted several limitations of their study, including that it overrepresented highly educated individuals and underrepresented minority ethnic groups.

According to NBC local, being in a relationship or married did not significantly shield individuals from feeling lonely.

Public health researcher and study lead for INTERACT, Austen El-Osta explained, “The key message is not simply that many people feel lonely, but that loneliness is strongly influenced by people’s surroundings, social network and their environment.”

El-Osta stated, “Loneliness is often treated as a private experience, but our findings reinforce that it is also a public health and community issue.”

Medical professionals note that chronic loneliness heavily triggers anxiety, depression, and higher rates of physical illness.

Dr. Azeem Majeed of the National Health Service, said, “As an NHS GP, I see how loneliness affects both the mental and physical health of my patients. It contributes to problems such as anxiety and depression, increases the risk of long-term conditions, and often leads to more frequent GP consultations.”

Dr. Majeed added, “By strengthening community connections and social capital, we can help prevent loneliness and enable people to live healthier, happier and more connected lives.”