Loneliness is spreading. What can sociology tell us about it?

In 5 seconds Long regarded as a purely private, individual experience, loneliness is now emerging as an important social issue, says UdeM expert Cécile Van de Velde.

While psychologists and philosophers have long been interested in loneliness, sociologists are only now starting to focus on the issue. Among them is Cécile Van de Velde, an Université de Montréal sociology professor.

Traditionally, sociologists have been interested in the isolation of people living alone, but they've paid less attention to the subjective dimension of isolation, and "this is an important issue,” Van de Velde said.

The face of loneliness is changing, the professor noted. Today, it doesn’t just affect elderly shut-ins, recluses and explorers of remote climes, the extreme cases with which it has traditionally been associated.

Taking a different approach to the issue, sociologists go beyond the individual to investigate the structural dimensions of loneliness, situating it in its social, economic and political contexts, Van de Velde explained.

“It’s a social question because it is rooted in social factors. For example, people who experience discrimination, marginalization or disability have higher rates of loneliness.”

An upward curve

Cécile Van de Velde

One of the most striking findings of recent research is the shifting age distribution of loneliness. Studies in the 1970s and 1980s showed an upward curve: loneliness increased with age. Over the last two decades, that pattern has reversed.

“Today, in Quebec and Canada, loneliness is most prevalent among teens and young adults, and in Europe, among adults in their late 20s and 30s,” said Van de Velde. “This trend accelerated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected young people in particular. In the latest surveys, young people are more likely to report feeling lonely than older people.”

Loneliness also affects the community at large. Van de Velde gave the example of “kodokushi”—a Japanese term for people who die alone and remain undiscovered for some time. This phenomenon has now spread to North America and Europe. In response, some countries have created government ministries dedicated to addressing solitude.

Another alarming development is the rise in forms of social withdrawal such as “hikikomori”—another Japanese term, signifying young people who shut themselves up in their homes and sever ties with the outside world.

“This major shift raises questions about contemporary social structures,” said Van de Velde. “Sociologists are trying to understand how structural factors such as competition, pressure for academic success, mobility and unemployment contribute to the growing loneliness of younger generations.”

Loneliness also has a political dimension that sociology can help illuminate. “Loneliness kills,” Van de Velde noted, citing evidence that chronic loneliness is equivalent to smoking several cigarettes a day.

Furthermore, loneliness can fuel radicalization. Van de Velde pointed to incels, men who feel excluded from romantic relationships and develop violent resentment towards women and other social groups.

“In (philosopher) Hannah Arendt’s typology, the highest degree of loneliness is abandonment or desolation,” Van de Velde noted. “And when people see no possibility of collective action, democracy itself is in danger.”

Four-pronged analysis

Van de Velde outlined four analytical angles that distinguish the sociological approach to loneliness from that of other disciplines.

First, sociology examines the impact of social norms. For example, societal expectations around couples and families can exacerbate the loneliness experienced by single or divorced individuals.

Secondly, sociology identifies the social and political causes and consequences of loneliness. Government austerity policies, job insecurity and the erosion of public services are all factors in the increase in loneliness.

Thirdly, sociology looks at the role of social and geographical disparities, as loneliness is particularly prevalent among marginalized groups, including the elderly, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ people, and people living in rural or disadvantaged areas.

Lastly, sociology considers the diversity of experiences and coping strategies. “Loneliness takes many forms, and individuals develop different coping strategies, ranging from withdrawal to engagement with online or in-person communities,” said Van de Velde.

She advocates an "intersectional" approach to understand how factors such as age, gender, background and social class affect loneliness. The sociology of loneliness must also connect with the sociology of emotion in order to explore how fear, shame, hope and anger shape the experience, she said.

“Online activity is a big issue. The pandemic showed the importance of physical contact and the need to rethink the role of digital technology. Loneliness isn’t just an individual problem; it reveals the fault lines in our contemporary societies. This is a collective challenge for which we must find collective solutions.”

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