911±¬ÁÏÍø

Conducting a systematic review to understand how place-based factors contribute to loneliness in both urban and rural areas in the UK.

Loneliness is currently considered a major public health challenge globally. There is increasingÌýunderstanding that loneliness is not just a problem at the individual, personal level. Experiences ofÌýloneliness are inextricably intertwined with place. The design and management of theÌý builtÌýenvironment to promote wellbeing have now become a key policy priority in the UK and otherÌýcountries. This is especially pertinent now as Covid-19 has exacerbated loneliness and continuesÌýto shape the way we connect to places and people.

However, due to inconsistent and siloedÌýresearch, it is not possible to draw clear conclusions for how place-based characteristics influenceÌýloneliness. For example, whilst some studies find that living in a densely populatedÌýneighbourhood is associated with reduced loneliness others discover the opposite. Cross-sectionalÌýdata also report similar loneliness scores for urban and rural areas even though other researchÌýfinds either urban or rural contexts to be associated with greater loneliness.

This project willÌýtherefore seek to co-produce a systematic review to deliver a meticulousÌýsummary of all the available primary research in response to how place-based factors contributeÌýto loneliness. The novelty of this project relates to transdisciplinary method in bringing togetherÌýtwoÌý disciplines (geography/built environment and health psychology) and practitioners from theÌýLoneliness and Social Isolation Network to conduct the systematic review, answering theÌýquestions: what is the association between place-based factors and loneliness? Why do people inÌýrural and urban areas feel lonely?

Image credit:ÌýPhoto by on Ìý