Fatigue, including chronic fatigue, is a common but often overlooked health issue in the general population. This study aimed to understand how widespread fatigue is and what factors are linked to it, using data from a large community survey in South London. Researchers interviewed 1,698 adults from randomly selected households in the boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth between 2008 and 2010. Fatigue levels were measured using a widely used questionnaire, and researchers examined how fatigue related to people’s backgrounds and experiences.
They found that nearly one in four people (23.5%) reported significant fatigue at the time of the survey. Fatigue was more common among those who experienced disruptions to work or daily activities due to physical or emotional issues. People with higher levels of fatigue were also more likely to have sought emotional support, either from professionals or from family and friends. Additionally, those who felt they had low levels of emotional or practical support were more likely to report fatigue.
The findings show that fatigue is not only widespread but also closely linked to social and emotional wellbeing. People who lack supportive relationships or who are struggling emotionally may be more vulnerable to fatigue. This suggests that improving access to both formal mental health support and informal social support could help reduce the burden of fatigue in the community. For policymakers and public health professionals, these insights offer important guidance for designing more targeted and effective interventions.