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Project
SBO project with a primary societal finality: A Lonely Planet? Addressing LONELIness from a PLAce-based perspective: research on the influence of Neighbourhood and EnvironmenT (FWOSBO51)
Loneliness is increasingly recognized as an important societal challenge,
which is put high on the Flemish policy agenda the last few years. It is
not only important because of its high prevalence rates, but also
because loneliness is strongly related to numerous health problems (e.g.
depression), higher health care expenditure, and has a negative impact
on quality of life. Moreover, the restrictive measures taken to deal with
the COVID-19 crisis have led to a significant increase in loneliness: in
February 2021, 59% of the adults in Flanders indicated to sometimes or
often feel lonely, and 36% reported severe feelings of loneliness.
An important Flemish policy objective is to counteract loneliness by
investing in so-called caring neighbourhoods. But although some
research indicates that both physical and social neighbourhood
characteristics (e.g. public parks, access to housing, public
transportation) affect loneliness, very little is known in this respect.
Therefore, it is important to study the relation between the
neighbourhood and loneliness. Further, much loneliness research is
often limited to specific age groups and does not take into account the
different dimensions of loneliness (emotional, social and existential).
The latter distinction is nevertheless crucial because interventions that
aim to counteract loneliness must be tailored around the unique needs
of the individual and must take into account those specific dimensions
of loneliness.
We contribute to the literature by providing innovative insight about (a)
which neighbourhood characteristics relate to the risk of loneliness
among all adults, (b) how this relation can be explained, and (c) which
neighbourhood level practices can prevent or alleviate loneliness.
Through this structural, meso level approach of loneliness we can
formulate specific policy advice to a wide range of Flemish and local
policy actors and provide evidence-based tools to counteract loneliness
from a neighbourhood perspective..
which is put high on the Flemish policy agenda the last few years. It is
not only important because of its high prevalence rates, but also
because loneliness is strongly related to numerous health problems (e.g.
depression), higher health care expenditure, and has a negative impact
on quality of life. Moreover, the restrictive measures taken to deal with
the COVID-19 crisis have led to a significant increase in loneliness: in
February 2021, 59% of the adults in Flanders indicated to sometimes or
often feel lonely, and 36% reported severe feelings of loneliness.
An important Flemish policy objective is to counteract loneliness by
investing in so-called caring neighbourhoods. But although some
research indicates that both physical and social neighbourhood
characteristics (e.g. public parks, access to housing, public
transportation) affect loneliness, very little is known in this respect.
Therefore, it is important to study the relation between the
neighbourhood and loneliness. Further, much loneliness research is
often limited to specific age groups and does not take into account the
different dimensions of loneliness (emotional, social and existential).
The latter distinction is nevertheless crucial because interventions that
aim to counteract loneliness must be tailored around the unique needs
of the individual and must take into account those specific dimensions
of loneliness.
We contribute to the literature by providing innovative insight about (a)
which neighbourhood characteristics relate to the risk of loneliness
among all adults, (b) how this relation can be explained, and (c) which
neighbourhood level practices can prevent or alleviate loneliness.
Through this structural, meso level approach of loneliness we can
formulate specific policy advice to a wide range of Flemish and local
policy actors and provide evidence-based tools to counteract loneliness
from a neighbourhood perspective..
Date:1 Oct 2022 → Today
Keywords:Urban sociology and community studies, Social change, Counselling, welfare and community services
Disciplines:Urban sociology and community studies
Project type:Collaboration project