In the middle of the lockdown, 47 percent felt loneliness at least occasionally, according to a survey carried out by the IT security company Kaspersky. The European average was 52 percent, in Italy even 59 percent.
70 percent of users surveyed in Austria said that technologies such as video tools help them to feel connected to family or friends despite being away. In general, however, they were the least tech-savvy compared to Europeans to compensate for social distance: Only 42 percent (52 percent across Europe) believe that technology can help fight loneliness – the lowest figure in Europe. In any case, technology cannot replace friendly or family contacts, said 78 percent of Austrian respondents.
In Austria, the positive effects caused by Covid-19 on personal use of digital technologies are also estimated to be lower: Only 27 percent believe that this has made them more familiar with the technology (36 percent across Europe; in Germany it is slightly less at 26) ).
Only 21 percent (30 percent Europe-wide; 19 percent in Germany) wished they would be more confident with it. Online friends are only 14 percent more important than personal contact, just as many as Europe-wide. The leaders here are the British and the Belgians, each with 19 percent.
The youngest Austrians, the “Generation Z”, born in 1994, reported most often at 67 percent about feelings of loneliness. In Europe, there were even 68 percent in this age group. In the “millennials” (born 1980 to 1993) it was 57 percent (62 percent Europe-wide) and in the “Generation X” (1965 to 1979) only 40 percent (50 percent Europe-wide).
The least problems with loneliness were those born before 1946 (14 percent in Austria and 37 percent Europe-wide) and the subsequent “baby boomers” (37 percent in Austria and 41 percent Europe-wide).
City dwellers (51 percent in Austria and 54 percent across Europe) were more likely to be lonely than rural residents (40 percent in Austria and 45 percent in Europe). In contrast, according to the survey, there were no significant differences between the sexes.
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