Lonely Apart or Lonely Together? Loneliness, Partnership Status, and the Links between Material Wellbeing and Vulnerability across Partnership Types in Four European Countries

Linda Kridahl , Department of Social Work, Södertörn University
Livia Sz. Oláh, Södertörn University
Leen Rahnu, Tallinn University

Partnerships are often understood to buffer poor subjective wellbeing, including loneliness. Yet, benefits likely depend on material conditions and perceived economic situation (vulnerability). We examine how the material wellbeing–loneliness link varies by partnership status (married, cohabiting, LAT, single) among adults aged 25–55 in early 2000s and 2020s in Czechia, Estonia, Sweden and Norway. Material wellbeing is measured by living standard and homeownership, and vulnerability by making ends meet and housing satisfaction. We estimate country- and round specific gender-stratified regressions. Singles have the highest loneliness risk across countries, periods, and genders relative to married. For men, LAT is linked to higher loneliness than married in Norway (2008, 2021) and Czechia (2005); in Estonia (2021) and Sweden, which disappears after adding vulnerability. Cohabiting men differ from married only in Czechia 2005. For women, cohabitation is associated with higher loneliness than marriage in Czechia 2005, Sweden 2012, and Norway 2021; while LAT is higher in Estonia 2021 and in Sweden and Norway (both rounds). Material wellbeing patterns show in earlier periods a clear negative gradient in loneliness, whereas later only the highest category remains protective. Non-ownership is linked to higher loneliness across countries, periods, and genders. Material wellbeing effects weaken or disappear after including vulnerability. Lower housing satisfaction and difficulty making ends meet predict higher loneliness across countries, rounds, and genders. Concluding, vulnerability predicts loneliness across countries, rounds, and genders, often outweighing objective assets. Still, partnership status continues to play an important role even after accounting for vulnerability, especially for singles and LAT.

See extended abstract

 Presented in Session 23. Mental Health, Cognition and Wellbeing