Social Isolation and the Loneliness Epidemic

Cynthia Cushing is a case management team leader for Summit Support Services for adults with disabilities. She is also affiliated with National Association of Social Workers (NASW)-Maine as the First Vice President.Dr. Lenard W. Kaye is Professor of Social Work at the University of Maine School of Social Work and Director of the University of Maine Center on Aging.

• How to Use This Book Preface1. The Nature of Being Alone: Social Isolation, Loneliness, and SolitudeQ1. Are loneliness and social isolation modern phenomena, and in what ways do they differ from each other and from solitude? Q2. Is the notion of individualism responsible for encouraging loneliness and social isolation?Q3. Is loneliness an individual or societal problem?Q4. Is solitude good for well-being? 2. Social Isolation and Loneliness: A Lifespan PerspectiveQ5. Do specific individual experiences as children exacerbate feelings of social isolation and loneliness during key life transitions?Q6. Are psychological mechanisms (attachment style, social anxiety, self-perception, fear of rejection) unchangeable contributors to the experiences of social isolation and loneliness?Q7. Are social isolation and loneliness correlated with physical and mental health stressors such as depression, anxiety, heart disease, and weakened immunity at different stages of life?Q8. Can social isolation and loneliness be as damaging to your health as smoking or obesity? Q9. Does loneliness translate into physical pain?Q10. Is there a direct link between loneliness and specific physical illnesses? Q11. Do resilience and protective factors around social isolation and loneliness differ across the lifespan?Q12. Has the risk of social isolation and loneliness reached public health crisis levels?3. The Culture of LonelinessQ13. Do cultural norms and values influence our understanding and experience of social isolation and loneliness?Q14. Do societal expectations of gender, including traditional gender roles, affect how men, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals experience, cope with, and seek help for social isolation and loneliness?Q15. Do race, socioeconomic status, and disability intersect to influence feelings of loneliness and social isolation?Q16. Are the structural barriers of rurality (e.g., transportation, access to services, internet connectivity) more significant drivers of social isolation than cultural factors (e.g., community norms, social networks)?Q17. Is substance use and homelessness a by-product of social isolation and loneliness? 4. Wired and IsolatedQ18. How has the digital revolution reshaped our understanding and experience of social connection, and does increased access to digital tools necessarily foster stronger relationships?Q19. Does remote work reduce the risk of becoming socially isolated and/or lonely?Q20. Is social media to blame for rising rates of loneliness and social isolation?5. Finding Our Way Back: Programmatic Strategies for Combatting Social Isolation and LonelinessQ21. Are individual and group, clinical-level, therapeutic interventions successful in addressing social isolation and loneliness?Q22. Are community-based programs effective strategies for reducing social isolation and loneliness?Q23. Can exposure to the natural environment positively influence feelings of loneliness and the risk of social isolation?Q24. Is engagement in physical activity and exercise an important factor not only for maintaining overall health but reducing the risk of loneliness and social isolation as well? 6. A Blueprint for Belonging: Policy Strategies to Address Loneliness and Social IsolationQ25. Is policy intervention in the United States necessary to address loneliness, and, if so, how does it complement programmatic and individual efforts?Q26. Is it time to consider global policy initiatives to reduce the risk and impacts of loneliness and social isolation worldwide?Q27. Is it preferable for policies to be designed to be all inclusive or should policies be designed to address the needs of specific population groups who are at greater risk of loneliness?Index