Loneliness was the most widely reported source of personal stress for Australians in April, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) releasing its third Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey.
Program Manager for Household Surveys at ABS, Michelle Marquardt said the survey revealed loneliness affected more women (28 per cent) than men (16 per cent).
“Around one in five people (19 per cent) also reported they were experiencing difficulties maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which was more of a problem for those aged 18 to 64 years (22 per cent) than those aged 65 years and over (9 per cent).
Ms Marquardt said the survey ran from early April to early May and respondents reported making numerous changes to their lifestyles as a result of the pandemic.
She said 22 per cent said they were eating more snack foods such as chips, lollies and biscuits and 14 per cent said they were consuming more alcohol and 10 per cent said they were consuming less.
She said 58 per cent reported spending more time in front of their television, computer, phone or other device.
Ms Marquardt said 29 per cent reported less frequent consumption of takeaway or delivered meals, while 38 per cent spent more time cooking or baking.
She said that compared with March, fewer people were taking the following precautions in late-April to early-May:
* Keeping distance from people (94 per cent compared with 98 per cent in March).
* Purchasing additional household supplies (21 per cent compared with 47 per cent in March).
* Purchasing additional medical supplies (8 per cent compared with 29 per cent in March).
Ms Marquardt said the proportion of Australians who said they were wearing a face mask remained about the same: 17 per cent in March and 15 per cent in late April to early May.
“Australians have also made significant changes to their working lives, with nearly half (46 per cent) of all working Australians working from home in late April and early May,” she said.
“Of those who were not working from home, 89 per cent reported they couldn’t, due to the type of job they had.
“Women were more likely than men to have been working from home (56 per cent compared with 38 per cent),” she said.
Ms Marquardt said that during the period from early April to early May, one in six Australians aged 18 years and over (17 per cent) used a Telehealth service.
“Almost half (43 per cent) said the Telehealth service was a replacement for a previously arranged face-to-face appointment,” said.
