Let’s be frank about this issue, shall we? Let’s stop pretending there are no problems in Australian, society?
A current head-line stated that:
“Loneliness is as harmful as smoking or obesity, research suggests“
Feelings of disconnection, isolation or lack of belonging should not be underestimated and there’s growing evidence that loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking or obesity.
Alarmingly, Australians are having less social contact than ever before despite living in a hyper connected world.
Let’s start with the Top 5 Headlines regarding loneliness in Australia found in Google and perhaps examine how a genuine permanent partner visa application with a loving and caring Filipino, may be a logical solution for lonely Australians.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Social isolation and loneliness
https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/topic-areas/social-isolation-and-loneliness
Preventing and reducing social isolation and loneliness
Engaging in volunteer work and maintaining active memberships of sporting or community organisations are also associated with reduced social isolation (Flood 2005). Participating in paid work and caring for others have been proposed as safeguards against loneliness. However, it is unclear whether community engagement can consistently act as a protective factor against loneliness. For example:
- one study found that loneliness is lower in people who spend at least some time each week volunteering (Flood 2005)
- another study found no relationship between loneliness and volunteering, or between loneliness and socialising and participating in sport and community organisations (Baker 2012).
For people aged 25 to 44, being in a relationship is a greater protective factor against loneliness for men than for women (Baker 2012). Women living with others and women living alone report similar levels of loneliness, while men living alone report higher levels of loneliness than men living with others (Flood 2005).
- Australian Psychological Society
Loneliness
https://psychology.org.au/for-the-public/psychology-topics/loneliness
The Power of Human Connection
In 2018, as part of Psychology Week, the APS collaborated with Swinburne University on a study of loneliness in Australia. The survey examined the prevalence of loneliness and how it affects the physical and mental health of Australians.
The survey revealed that:
1 in 4 Australians feel lonely.
Many Australians – especially younger Australians – report anxiety about socialising Thirty per cent don’t feel part of a group of friends. Lonely Australians have worse physical and mental health, and are more likely to be depressed.
- University of Melbourne
Marriage on the decline but partnered couples do better financially
There has been a decline in the proportion of married people, which is mirrored by growth in de facto relationships between 2001 and 2021.
For men, the proportion of those married declined from 56.3 per cent in 2001 to 50.3 per cent, while the proportion in a de facto relationship rose from 9 per cent to 14.7 per cent.
For women, the proportion of those married declined from 54.5 per cent to 48.2 per cent, while those in a de facto relationship rose from 8.9 per cent to 14.3 per cent.
- KPMG Australia
5 million Australians impacted by loneliness
Loneliness can affect anyone.
However, there are some groups that are more susceptible than others. Young adults are at particularly high risk, with 37–50% of people aged 18–24 reported to be lonely. Parents, particularly single parents, older people and people who live alone are also more impacted. It is also an issue among minority groups. First Nations people, those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and migrants experience higher levels of loneliness compared to national averages.
- Australian Institute of Family Studies
The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is a Melbourne-based Australian Government statutory agency. It was established in 1980 under the Family Law Act 1975.
AIFS’ mission is to conduct high-quality, impartial research into the wellbeing of Australian families, to inform government policy and promote evidence-based practice in the family services sector.
Defining ‘social isolation’, ‘loneliness’ and other related terms is important because they affect how we understand and measure social relationships and how we support people experiencing problems with social relationships and connections (Valtorta & Hanratty, 2012; Westrupp et al., 2021; Zavaleta, Samuel, & Mills, 2017).
Young adults aged 18–25 years and adults over 65 years are more at risk of experiencing loneliness or social isolation and the associated negative health outcomes (Lim, Eres, & Vasan, 2020). Young people experiencing isolation and loneliness are more likely to experience future mental health issues (Loades et al., 2020), and older people experiencing social isolation are more at risk of elder abuse (Qu, Kaspiew, Carson et al., 2021). People with disability, carers, people from a migrant or non-English speaking background, lower income households, and people living alone are also more likely to report problematic experiences of loneliness or social isolation (Ending Loneliness Together, 2020; Hussain et al., 2018; Lim et al., 2020).
So, again let’s look at this serious social issue in Australia and agree that it does exist and there are a range of policies that governments can apply to somewhat ‘placate the situation’, to a point.
But what if we consider other solutions for loneliness, as being define in most dictionaries as ‘being alone’ to its antonym which is, ‘companionship’.
Let’s just be mature enough and examine the positive outcomes of a:
- Compatible
- Caring
- Loving
partner for the lonely Australian, in question.
Obviously, there are those that ‘may not enjoy the thought of developing another relationship’ especially if the last one was, abusive and traumatizing in nature but the benefits as a whole, may outweigh the negatives, on many fronts.
It was once famously said in an elegy titled In Memoriam A.H.H., Lord, by Alfred Tennyson wrote the line, that:
“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
Many research had been conducted and one even came up with 15 Reasons For The Rise in Male Loneliness:
The rising male loneliness is concerning. Studies show that 40% of men experience loneliness every day. While loneliness knows no gender, men are lately dealing with its increasing effects, yet they often go unnoticed/unaddressed. Millions of males deal with unspoken struggles regularly. Here are 15 reasons for the rise in male loneliness:
- Shifting Gender Roles
- Social Isolation
- Work – Life Imbalance
- Cultural Expectations
- Stigma Surrounding Mental Health
- Lack of Social Support Networks
- Stigma Around Vulnerability
- Relationship Dynamics
- Economic Pressures
- Changing Family Structures
- Identity Crisis
- Performance Pressure
- Communication Barriers
- Aging Population
- Introvert/Hesitant Nature
The post 15 Reasons For The Rise in Male Loneliness appeared first on SheBudgets.
https://shebudgets.com/lifestyle/relationships/reasons-for-the-rise-in-male-loneliness
The links and sites for loneliness goes on. It impacts both men and women and some studies even concentrate their finding in age groups such as:
- 10 Reasons Men Over 60 Report Being So Lonely
Loneliness can be a common experience for men over 60, often stemming from various factors unique to this stage of life. In this list, we’ll delve into 10 reasons why men over 60 may feel lonely and explore practical solutions for combating loneliness and fostering connection and fulfillment in their lives.
- Loss of Spouse or Partner
- Empty Nest Syndrome
- Retirement Transition
- Health Challenges
- Changes in Social Circles
- Cultural Norms around Masculinity
- Lack of Purpose
- Digital Divide
- Stigma Around Mental Health
- Lack of Social Support Systems
Men over 60 may face challenges in accessing social support systems due to factors such as limited mobility, financial constraints, or geographic isolation.
- 19 Reasons Why Older Men Often Choose to Be Alone
Many older men prefer to opt for being single over being in a relationship. They believe that being single brings them more benefits and, overall, makes them happy. Here are 19 reasons why older men often choose to be alone.
- Independence
- Avoiding Drama
- Simplifying Life
- Chasing Passions
- Mental and Emotional Well-being
- Financial Considerations
- Reduced Stress
- Privacy and Personal Space
- Comfort in Familiarity
- Avoiding Commitment
- Needing Time to Heal
- Reflecting on Life
- Dating Challenges
- Focus on Religion
- Improving Themselves
- Freedom to Travel
- Focus on Family Relationships
- Peaceful Retirement
- Relief from Relationship Expectations
https://feelthinkshare.com/reasons-why-older-men-often-choose-to-be-alone
So, if you start doing research about Filipino culture, it kind of works out that their situations may attract lonely Australians in that articles such as the one directly below shine light, on why lonely Australians gravitate towards a relationship with caring and loving Filipino:
Why are Filipinos so obsessed with having a relationship?
Overall Filipinos are very emotional, in fact they are the most emotional people in the planet, it is said.
Philippines is a ‘matriarchal country pretending to be macho’ it is also claimed.
This means women enjoy more equal treatment, leadership roles and in most cases some women even outdo many men. What this has to do with being obsessed with relationship is the fact that the Philippines has a very feminine society that values relationships, connection, harmony and emotion over goals, facts and logic.
Although the country was ranked among the more masculine countries by some indices but that is just a reflection how most Filipinos act on a surface level and they do it because of the Spanish influence of patriarchy/machismo culture combined with the Asian concept of shame/saving face.
But deep down, Filipino culture is very feminine.
Asians in general are collectivistic by nature as opposed to individualistic attitudes of the West.
This in turn creates an excellent breeding ground to develop one of the classic Filipino traits which is seeking external validation or approval. Having someone to accept, understand and love you is the best way to feel validated.
Developing a Relationship with a Filipino.
If you are considering in developing or are already in a relationship with a Filipino, why not call RESPALL Migration Australia and have yourselves thoroughly and professionally assessed to see if you actually qualify to lodge a valid and genuine permanent partner visa application and receive your ‘prospect of success in writing’ before you commence your partner visa application from the Philippines to Australia.
Just provide your contact details in the Philippines and/or in Australia and allow our Team Member to clear a time to call you and gather the salient information that will indicate your ability ‘to meet and nail that partner visa grant on the first attempt and avoid any lengthy and potentially a refused partner visa application’.
Thank you.
