Fardghassemi, Sam; (2023) Loneliness and Place: A Mixed-Methods Investigation. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Loneliness has received significant attention in contemporary times and recent research shows that young adults (16–24 years old) are currently the loneliest group in Western countries. However, little is known about the underlying factors associated with this group’s loneliness. Recent research is also increasingly paying attention to the impact of the built environment on loneliness and although we now know more about the places that influence loneliness, we lack knowledge of how they impact loneliness. These two gaps form the focus of this mixedmethods PhD. The qualitative component of this PhD aims to explore young adults’ subjective experiences of loneliness, including its cause, together with how larger social-structural contexts such as places in their neighbourhood impact their sense of loneliness. Similarly, the systematic literature review element of the PhD examines the role played by the built environment in loneliness by systematically reviewing the literature to identify the mechanisms that link places with loneliness/social isolation. Using a novel free association task, qualitative data show that young adults are under significant pressure to fit in and be accepted. They also feel isolated and experience a range of negative emotions associated with loneliness such as depression and rumination. Additional exploration revealed that social representations of spaces as relationship and social connectedness enhancing are important for young adults, as are spaces that give them a sense of purpose, familiarity, and comfort. The systematic review added further insight, showing which mechanisms link particular places with loneliness/social isolation. These include lacking a sense of community, lacking social and physical resources within one’s neighbourhood's (e.g., social cohesion, walkability, and amenities), and issues specific to rurality including migration of family members to urban areas and poor transport links. The current PhD offers insight into what interventions can minimise loneliness among young adults and how larger social structural features of the built environments can be designed to reduce loneliness/social isolation.

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