The Cambridge Handbook of Loneliness

Theory, Research, and Interventions
Erscheinungsjahr 2026
ISBN: 978-1-009-38911-2
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 860 Seiten

Reihe: Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology

Everyone has experienced loneliness – perhaps briefly – perhaps for many years. This handbook explores why people of all ages can become lonely, and features steps that can be taken by individuals, communities, and entire societies to prevent and alleviate loneliness. Chapters present rigorous scientific research drawn from psychology, relationship science, neuroscience, physiology, sociology, public health, and gerontology to demystify the phenomenon of loneliness and its consequences. The volume investigates the significant risks that loneliness poses to health and the harmful physiological processes it can set in motion. It also details numerous therapeutic approaches to help people overcome loneliness from multiple perspectives, including traditional and cognitive psychotherapy, efforts to connect individuals to their communities, and designing communities and public policies to create a greater sense of social connection. Using accessible terminology understandable to a non-medical audience, it is an important work for social science scholars, students, policymakers, and practitioners.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Perlman, Daniel

Cutrona, Carolyn

Russell, Daniel

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of figures; List of tables; List of contributors; Forward by Letitia Anne Peplau; Acknowledgements; Dedication; 1. An introduction: Loneliness theories, research, and interventions in today's changing world; Part I. Foundations for Studying Loneliness: 2. Measuring loneliness among adults: An evaluation of current models; 3. An evolutionary perspective on loneliness; 4. Non evolutionary theories and models for explaining loneliness; 5. A Sociological perspective on loneliness; 6. A public health perspective on loneliness – Prevent, protect and promote; Part II. Loneliness Across the Lifecourse: 7. Loneliness in childhood; 8. Loneliness in adolescence; 9. Loneliness in mid-life and older adults; 10. Life transitions and loneliness; Part III. Individual Differences in Loneliness: 11. What difference? a critical evaluation of theories and empirical evidence on gender differences in loneliness; 12. To be or not to be (a core trait): Personality factors and loneliness; 13. Disabilities and loneliness: Risk and protective factors; 14. Loneliness among sexual and gender minorities; Part IV. Interpersonal Aspects of Loneliness: 15. Social isolation and loneliness; 16. A nuanced view on loneliness by marital status: The importance of past experience and diversity; 17. Communication, interaction patterns, and loneliness; 18. Social support and loneliness; 19. Networks and loneliness; Part V. Contextual Influences: 20. Urban planning and loneliness: The impact of objective and perceived built environment factors; 21. Stigma and loneliness: Moving from individual deficits to community responsibility; 22. Work loneliness: A review of literature and intervention strategies; 23. Loneliness and immigration; 24. Social media use and loneliness; 25. Connected by loneliness: Loneliness across different cultures; Part VI. Physical Health, Mental Health and Loneliness: 25. Loneliness and human gene expression; 27. The neuroscience of loneliness; 28. Physical health, mortality and loneliness; 29. COVID-19 and loneliness: The context of social restrictions; 30. Loneliness and dementia risk in older adulthood; 31. Loneliness and mental health; Part VII. Combatting Loneliness: 32. Interventions with adolescents; 33. Interventions to reduce loneliness in people with mental health problems; 34. Remotely delivered, technology-supported interventions; 35. The role of psychological treatments in addressing loneliness; 36. Social prescribing: An overview; 37. The economics of loneliness; 38. A national strategy for loneliness: The end of the road or the start of the journey?

Über Autor(innen)

Perlman, Daniel
Daniel Perlman is Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia and University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has been president of four academic associations including the International Society for the Study of Personal Relationships and the International Association for Relationship Research and has been editor or co-editor of five journals including Personal Relationships, and the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.

Russell, Daniel
Daniel W. Russell is Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Iowa State University. He is well known for his contributions toward developing the UCLA Loneliness Scale and has published over 160 peer-reviewed papers, being cited over 66,000 times. Daniel's research interests are in the areas of social support, stress, and loneliness. Over his career, he has received over $15 million in research funding.

Cutrona, Carolyn
Carolyn Cutrona is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Psychology at Iowa State University. She has published over 120 articles, mostly in the area of social support. Carolyn is the author of Social Support in Couples, Marriage as a Resource in Times of Stress and co-developed the Social Provisions Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale.