A British study reveals that poetry can help combat isolation and loneliness

In detail, the study shows that poetry helped the majority of users surveyed (51%) to deal with loneliness and social isolation, while it helped with managing anxiety and depression for 50% of respondents. Photo: AFP

Music is said to soothe the soul, but the benefits of poetry are far less well known.

Yet poetry may have unsuspected powers. A study carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic reveals that people who write or read poetry can feel less lonely, less sad and less anxious.