Paid social clubs promise connection with new people, with a lot of the complicated legwork handled. But here’s why they’re unlikely to fix our loneliness epidemic.
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For people who feel lonely, a trip to the supermarket could help – if only the store provided opportunities to chat at the checkout. A Dutch chain has done just that, and customers and staff love it.
A systematic review of thousands of studies around the world has found many aspects of our cities affect loneliness. But people’s relationship with their environment is complex and highly individual.
A white paper launched today reveals four actions governments, researchers and policymakers can take to combat loneliness.
We found men managed to bounce back quicker after lockdowns ended, in part due to their involvement in sporting and recreational activities.
As people living in long-term care homes brave another lockdown, communication is key and the presence of family members (virtually or through the window) is needed.
For the areas of cities with less than 10% green space, increasing that to 30% could cut the overall odds of residents becoming lonely by a quarter.
Many who are lonely will overlook their own emerging signs of loneliness in hope these feelings will go away once around other people.
Physically isolating yourself can feel psychologically isolating too. But there are ways to maintain connections in these crazy coronavirus times.
There is heavy social media use among both the most lonely and least lonely people. So what exactly is the relationship between social media use and loneliness?
Loneliness is a bigger cause of death than a poor diet, obesity, alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise, and it’s on a par with heavy smoking. So let’s get talking about it.
Cuddles and slobbery kisses, meeting other dog owners in the park and a general lift in mood all likely help new dog owners feel less lonely, our new study suggests.
Social media can be a great tool to keep in touch with friends – but if you are already lonely, it could make things worse.
It’s less about making more friends and more about changing the way we see the world.
Social isolation is linked to higher blood pressure, lower cognitive abilities and even increased chances of premature death.
For those who are finding the social distancing isolating, here are some lessons from ancient hermits, who often found joy in being alone.
Top contributors
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Senior Research Fellow, Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney
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Professor, Academy of Geography, Sociology and International Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University
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Associate Professor, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney
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Professor of Early Christianity, Cornell University
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PhD candidate, University of Sydney
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Professor of Psychology and ARC Laureate Fellow, The University of Queensland
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Honorary Adjunct Lecturer, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney
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Professor of Urban Health and Environment, UNSW
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Professor, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland
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Gerontologist, University of Waterloo
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Associate Professor of Marketing, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania
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Professor and Clinical Psychologist, Australian National University
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Director of the Center for the Science of Social Connection, University of Washington
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Professor of Cities and Planetary Health, ARC Future Fellow in nature-based solutions for loneliness, University of Sydney
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Professor of Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Population Health, University of Sydney