Loneliness Across Time and Space

Introduction

The places where people live and spend their time seem to matter for loneliness, but previous research provides mixed evidence for this link. The core argument of LOTIS is that to understand why, when, and for whom places contribute to loneliness, the current perspective on the link between place and loneliness needs to be fundamentally shifted towards a dynamic view.

Theoretical Framework

I propose a novel theoretical framework linking a person’s momentary loneliness to how the place is subjectively perceived by this person at a given time. This perception is influenced by:

1. The objective, observable characteristics of the place.
2. Characteristics of the person.
3. Individual mobility patterns, i.e., how often, for how long, and in what order places are visited.

Methodology

To test this framework, the following steps will be undertaken:

1. A new dimensional taxonomy that allows describing perceived characteristics of places systematically and comprehensively will be developed and applied to the geographically diverse city of Bochum, Germany, using a citizen science approach.
2. The short-term and long-term reciprocal dynamics of place, mobility, and loneliness will be examined in a longitudinal measurement burst study where participants track their current location using GPS and report their perceptions of their current locations and their momentary loneliness four times over a period of three years.
3. The causal processes that link places to loneliness will be tested using laboratory experiments and a natural field experiment.

Potential Impact

LOTIS has the potential to significantly change how the associations among places, mobility, and loneliness are conceptualized and studied by:

• Moving from a static to a dynamic perspective.
• Incorporating both objective and perceived characteristics of places.
• Considering individual mobility patterns.

In addition, the insights gained in LOTIS can be used to develop evidence-based interventions and public policy measures against loneliness.