Keywords

social support, loneliness, social isolation, socialization, elderly, social interventions, social connections, social cohesion

Abstract

Robust research evidence confirms the adverse health effects of social isolation and loneliness, with increasing focus on finding effective solutions. What can we extract from epidemiology and relationship science to help us design more effective solutions? This article identifies themes in contemporary scholarship that inform effective program and intervention design. The themes include: (1) multiple underlying causal factors that may require tailored approach; (2) the time course of relationships and disease development versus length of interventions; (3) the protective effects of relationships are based on naturally occurring or existing close relationships, yet most programs involve strangers; and (4) not all relationships are positive, with negativity in relationships increasing risk for adverse outcomes. The second aim of this article is to describe key components of intervention evaluation. This includes attention to validated measurement, identification of mechanism(s) of action and outcome(s), appropriate comparison, and sensitivity to unintended negative effects.

Original Publication Citation

Holt-Lunstad, J., Layton, R., Barton, B., & Smith, T. B. (2020). Science into practice: Effective solutions for social isolation and loneliness. Generations, Fall, 2020.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2020

Publisher

American Society on Aging

Language

English

College

David O. McKay School of Education

Department

Counseling Psychology and Special Education

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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