#Poverty

A major new study from the University of Oxford finds that loneliness is not just a matter of feeling isolated—it actually hurts the health of the poor more than the wealthy, even when both groups spend similar amounts of time socializing. Surveying over 24,500 people across 20 European countries, researchers discovered that nearly half of low-income individuals reported feeling lonely, versus just 15% of their high-income peers. Most strikingly, these lonely, low-income individuals experienced far higher rates of pain, fatigue, and low mood—a so-called “defensive symptom cluster”—with social relationships providing the strongest relief for those at the economic margins Neuroscience News.

A major new study from Oxford University has uncovered compelling evidence that loneliness inflicts a much harsher toll on mental and physical health among people living in poverty compared to their more affluent peers—even when both groups report similar levels of social interaction. This landmark research, surveying more than 24,500 people across 20 European countries, shines a spotlight on the intertwined effects of financial hardship, social isolation, and health, with urgent implications for communities in Thailand and globally.

A new report reveals that childhood food insecurity remains a pressing and unevenly distributed problem across the United States, with alarming rates in some rural communities. According to Feeding America’s latest annual “Map the Meal Gap” study, released on May 14, 2025 and first reported by Axios, nearly one in five American children—estimated at about 14 million—live in food-insecure households. In certain rural counties, over 40% and up to 50% of children experience food insecurity—meaning their families struggle to reliably access enough nutritious food for a healthy, active life (Axios, Feeding America).