Macro Social Influences on Loneliness in Later Life : Towards a Better Understanding of the Loneliness Paradox in Europe

This open access book explores the macro-social influences on loneliness in later life, emphasizing how societal structures, cultural contexts, and broader social transformations shape the experience of loneliness. Dedicated to the social construction of loneliness and the notable heterogeneity in its prevalence across European countries, this volume brings together a distinguished selection of experts who share their latest insights on meso- and macro-level influences, cultural and structural theories, and the impact of digitalization, climate change, and societal crises. Divided into five parts, the book addresses key aspects of this complex issue.

The first part introduces the central themes, outlining the relevance of loneliness as a societal concern and discussing the limitations of existing research, which predominantly focuses on individual-level factors. It highlights the need for a multi-level approach that incorporates micro, meso, and macro perspectives to fully understand the contextual influences on loneliness. The second part delves into theoretical perspectives, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding loneliness at different levels. It examines the interplay between individual, relational, and societal factors while also exploring cultural and social exclusion perspectives that shed light on how loneliness manifests across different contexts. The third part presents empirical evidence, focusing on variations in loneliness across different social groups and regions in Europe. It synthesizes research on micro- and meso-level determinants while also providing a review of macro-level influences. This part highlights the role of welfare regimes, demographic trends, and broader societal conditions in shaping the prevalence and experience of loneliness. The fourth part explores recent societal developments that may influence loneliness, including digitalization, migration, climate change, and societal crises. These emerging topics illustrate how macro-level transformations can either alleviate or exacerbate loneliness, depending on how they interact with existing social structures and individual circumstances. The final part discusses methodological advancements and policy implications. It introduces an innovative approach to analyzing macro-social influences on loneliness and revisits the ‘loneliness paradox’ in light of new findings. The book concludes with policy recommendations and future research directions, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that integrates individual, relational, and societal dimensions to develop more effective interventions against loneliness. 

In sum, by adopting a macro-social lens, this book contributes to a deeper understanding of the societal, cultural, and policy-related determinants of loneliness. It offers a foundation for evidence-based interventions that go beyond individual-level solutions, recognizing loneliness as a socially embedded phenomenon shaped by broader societal forces. It is our hope and expectation that the book and its content will fundamentally change our understanding of loneliness and strategies to combat it.

Marja Aartsen, PhD, is currently research professor and social gerontologist at NOVA – Norwegian Social Research at OsloMet. She is specialized in longitudinal research on social relations, social exclusion, loneliness, and cognitive functioning in the second half of life. She is interested in social issues related to aging in place and active or successful ageing. Resent research projects and collaborations include gendered pathways to exclusion from social relations (GENPATH), reducing old-age social exclusion (ROSENET) and a multidimensional approach to social exclusion and its health consequences (AMASE). She was editor of the European Journal of Ageing from 2017 until summer 2022.

Iuliana Precupetu, PhD, is a senior researcher at the Research Institute for Quality of Life, Romanian Academy, and the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest. She is a sociologist specializing in quality of life, health inequalities and social exclusion in later life. Her current interests include the relationship between social exclusion in older age and mental health, as well as the application of life course methods to quality of life research. Most recently, she coordinated the AMASE research project - A multidimensional approach to social exclusion in later life – health consequences for ageing populations.

Bianca Suanet, PhD, is a sociologist, specializing in loneliness, social relations, and care use among older adults, especially in relation to the impact of societal and policy changes. She was formerly Professor of Ageing and Social Change at the Linköping University in Sweden and Associate Professor in Sociology and Head of the Social Functioning Group of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Currently, her research projects encompass studies on the relationship between macro-level factors and loneliness, and optimizing interventions against loneliness based on scientific evidence for older migrants.