Campaign to End Loneliness: The Psychology of Loneliness – Why it matters and what we can do

The Campaign to End Loneliness believes that people of all ages need connections that matter. Having the friendship and support we need is a fundamental part of our wellbeing and when loneliness becomes entrenched in later life it can be hardest to overcome. They use evidence-based campaigning, facilitating learning on the frontline and connecting different parts of the loneliness community such as academics, frontline practitioners, decision-makers and businesses.

Loneliness happens when the social connections that people want don’t match their actual experience of relationships with others. It is an emotional response, and as such, it is important that we draw more on the insights from psychology. This report was produced, in response to the commitment made in the government’s loneliness strategy, to improve the evidence

It aims to address the current gap in our understanding of the psychological and emotional aspects of loneliness, the role these play in our ability to form meaningful connections and, how this knowledge can inform and improve the support for those experiencing loneliness, particularly chronic and severe loneliness. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted loneliness as an issue and in particular internal ways of managing loneliness when it has been harder to connect in the external world. This report should contribute to an understanding of how we re-emerge from the pandemic in the coming years.