The Cambridge Handbook of Loneliness
The Cambridge Handbook of Loneliness
Carolyn Cutrona, Iowa State University
Daniel Russell, Iowa State University
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GBPEveryone has experienced loneliness – perhaps briefly – perhaps for many years. This handbook explores why people of all ages can become lonely, and features steps that can be taken by individuals, communities, and entire societies to prevent and alleviate loneliness. Chapters present rigorous scientific research drawn from psychology, relationship science, neuroscience, physiology, sociology, public health, and gerontology to demystify the phenomenon of loneliness and its consequences. The volume investigates the significant risks that loneliness poses to health and the harmful physiological processes it can set in motion. It also details numerous therapeutic approaches to help people overcome loneliness from multiple perspectives, including traditional and cognitive psychotherapy, efforts to connect individuals to their communities, and designing communities and public policies to create a greater sense of social connection. Using accessible terminology understandable to a non-medical audience, it is an important work for social science scholars, students, policymakers, and practitioners.
- Presents multidisciplinary coverage of theory, research, measurement, and efforts to combat loneliness and foster the feeling of belonging
- Sheds light on the many factors that influence loneliness from different perspectives
- Features contributions from distinguished scholars internationally known for their work
Product details
January 2026Paperback
9781009389136
860 pages
244 × 170 mm
Not yet published - available from January 2026
Table of Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- Forward by Letitia Anne Peplau
- Acknowledgements
- Dedication
- 1. An introduction: Loneliness theories, research, and interventions in today's changing world
- Part I. Foundations for Studying Loneliness:
- 2. Measuring loneliness among adults: An evaluation of current models
- 3. An evolutionary perspective on loneliness
- 4. Non evolutionary theories and models for explaining loneliness
- 5. A Sociological perspective on loneliness
- 6. A public health perspective on loneliness – Prevent, protect and promote
- Part II. Loneliness Across the Lifecourse:
- 7. Loneliness in childhood
- 8. Loneliness in adolescence
- 9. Loneliness in mid-life and older adults
- 10. Life transitions and loneliness
- Part III. Individual Differences in Loneliness:
- 11. What difference? a critical evaluation of theories and empirical evidence on gender differences in loneliness
- 12. To be or not to be (a core trait): Personality factors and loneliness
- 13. Disabilities and loneliness: Risk and protective factors
- 14. Loneliness among sexual and gender minorities
- Part IV. Interpersonal Aspects of Loneliness:
- 15. Social isolation and loneliness
- 16. A nuanced view on loneliness by marital status: The importance of past experience and diversity
- 17. Communication, interaction patterns, and loneliness
- 18. Social support and loneliness
- 19. Networks and loneliness
- Part V. Contextual Influences:
- 20. Urban planning and loneliness: The impact of objective and perceived built environment factors
- 21. Stigma and loneliness: Moving from individual deficits to community responsibility
- 22. Work loneliness: A review of literature and intervention strategies
- 23. Loneliness and immigration
- 24. Social media use and loneliness
- 25. Connected by loneliness: Loneliness across different cultures
- Part VI. Physical Health, Mental Health and Loneliness:
- 25. Loneliness and human gene expression
- 27. The neuroscience of loneliness
- 28. Physical health, mortality and loneliness
- 29. COVID-19 and loneliness: The context of social restrictions
- 30. Loneliness and dementia risk in older adulthood
- 31. Loneliness and mental health
- Part VII. Combatting Loneliness:
- 32. Interventions with adolescents
- 33. Interventions to reduce loneliness in people with mental health problems
- 34. Remotely delivered, technology-supported interventions
- 35. The role of psychological treatments in addressing loneliness
- 36. Social prescribing: An overview
- 37. The economics of loneliness
- 38. A national strategy for loneliness: The end of the road or the start of the journey?
