LONELINESS

Sources | Reports

1. Smith, Kimberley. “CHARTING LONELINESS.” RSA Journal, vol. 165, no. 1 (5577), 2019, pp. 38–41. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26798454. Accessed 6 Apr. 2020.

Different ideas behind the meaning of loneliness in the modern age

Kimberley Smith utilizes a variety of authors to cite in her plight to discuss what loneliness means in the current world. She believes it is important to tackle this subject because it is a public health issue that can have adverse effects that manifest in the human mind and body. Loneliness is an abstract subject that is difficult to distinguish on its own, but there are familiar factors in understanding loneliness that people may agree upon. Smith presents Robert Weiss, an American sociologist, who defines two types of loneliness: “social loneliness, which is linked to a lack of social network; and emotional loneliness, which is linked to an absence of emotional attachment.” (Smith 38). Weiss’ loneliness differentiation sounds like it can be solved in a simple manner – just replacing parts of life to make up for what is lacking. However, it’s a more complex journey than it is perceived to be as it leaves out details. While negative effects can derive from these types of loneliness, it highly depends on the duration of the experience. Smith provides work from Jenny de Jong-Gierveld, Dutch Sociologist, that discusses how situational loneliness is nowhere near chronic loneliness. The ladder is a “persistent state…linked with many of the adverse health and well-being consequences.” (Smith 38). Whereas situational loneliness is a part of the existential human experience that can provides an opportunity to grow and reflect.

As reflected in this quote from a research paper by social gerontologist Mary Pat Sullivan: “It’s not being alone because you can be alone and not lonely…it’s when you feel your soul is alone.” (Smith 40)

A significant amount of people are currently sheltered-in or quarantined in 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19. This pandemic places people in a special type of situational loneliness that is referred to as involuntary social isolation that has caused a domino effect in other factors that influence feelings of loneliness: “household composition, where we [people] live, financial difficulties, community engagement and access to transport.” (Smith 41). While some people can thrive in this situation, not everyone shares the same sentiment depending on their situation and mental health. Smith believes that “for some, being lonely can be a transformative and overall positive experience, as it can act as a motivator to reach out and develop new social connections.” (Smith 41). More importantly, it is vital to build on the relationships that already exist or extend a hand to someone that could possibly be in need of social interaction, a genuine friend to help combat these feelings. Tackling mental health, especially loneliness, takes a village and some mental health practices.

2. SINGH, RAM N. “LONELINESS: DYNAMICS, DIMENSIONS AND MANY FACES.” International Review of Modern Sociology, vol. 21, no. 1, 1991, pp. 109–120. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41420990. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.

How to define loneliness

The core of Ram Singh’s discussion is how “loneliness is a condition of human existence.” (Singh 109). He explains this at length because it is a universal experience that all parts of the world are familiar with despite possibly not having personal experience with it. Modern society has made dramatic social shifts well-intentioned for the greater of good; however, some shifts in liberty have adverse effects that perpetuate this social phenomenon: “the rising of family disintegration, divorce, crime, suicides and homicides just reflect the experiential variations in people’s efforts to end loneliness.” (Singh 110). This list of factors very well may be products of other social experiences, but at the very least they are all connected to this idea of ending loneliness. There is a misconception that loneliness is exclusive to the idea of being alone as in the absence of people – this is not always the case. While Singh conveys this idea at length, the author then makes a shift in the text on how to combat this. The central question then becomes how to cure the feeling of loneliness on a personal and societal level: “the cure of loneliness lies in the individual’s capacity to get in touch with his own self.” (Singh 117). However, there is no guide to what this cure may look like because it is highly dependent on an individualistic experience.

3. Steptoe, Andrew, et al. “Social Isolation, Loneliness, and All-Cause Mortality In Older Men and Women.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 110, no. 15, 2013, pp. 5797–5801. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/42590308. Accessed 8 Apr. 2020.

What loneliness entails for older populations

Andrew Steptoe provides figures that show how elderly people report their own loneliness and isolation based on the UCLA loneliness scale. It is an interesting article that contrasts loneliness to the psychological embodiment of social isolation. Furthermore, the author provides information on how social isolation is “associated with limiting longstanding illnesses such as chronic lung disease, arthritis, impaired mobility, and depressive symptoms.” (Steptoe 5797). While his study only concerned members of one racial class, it shows that there are significant physical factors that contribute to loneliness – at least among this racial class. More significantly, he found that “loneliness was more common in women and was associated with older age, less education, and lower wealth and marital status in the same way as social isolation.” (Steptoe 5797). However, it is important to recognize that this particular population did not have the same drive or access to education that society currently has in the early 21^st century. As for the other factors listed, they could very well be associated with loneliness but it is unsure whether these are the causes or effects.