Welcome to Connecting the Dots: Advancing the Science of Social Isolation and Loneliness, a blog series where we explore the complexities of social isolation and loneliness (SIL). This series will dive deep into their effects on health, the challenges in measuring them accurately, and the gaps in existing interventions. Our aim is to pave the way for more effective, evidence-based solutions that address these urgent issues at both individual and community levels.

Why Focus on Social Isolation and Loneliness?

Social isolation and loneliness are associated with more than emotional distress—they are linked to a range of serious physical and mental health conditions. Research suggests that the impact of SIL on premature mortality may be comparable to, or even exceed, that of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity (for some of the foundational insights on this, see here and here). Meta-analyses consistently report that SIL is correlated with a 22-26% higher risk of early death across various demographic groups. Additionally, SIL are related to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and declines in daily functioning and motor skills.

Beyond health, SIL takes a toll on economic productivity. Lonely employees often report lower motivation, higher absenteeism, and greater turnover intent. The cognitive and mental health struggles associated with SIL further impair work performance, creating ripple effects that hurt both individual well-being and organizational outcomes.

Growing Global Attention to SIL

SIL is not just a public health issue; it’s an international concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a high-level commission on social connection to address this, launching studies and offering recommendations for policies and interventions. Similarly, a scoping review by Goldman et al. analyzed national policies from 52 countries, revealing a surge of attention to SIL across the globe.

Policymakers, venture capitalists, and tech companies are also recognizing the need to act. As Goldman et al. pointed out, policymakers can maintain this momentum by using rigorous, evidence-based strategies and fostering global collaboration to share knowledge and solutions.

The Need for Robust Research

While there is no doubt that SIL is important for public health,  many critical questions remain. How accurately are we measuring SIL across different countries? How effective are current interventions at reducing loneliness and social isolation? Are the theories guiding SIL research truly representative of diverse populations? We need more high-quality, internationally relevant studies to answer these questions.

Our recent exploratory analysis, for example, replicated the strong link between loneliness and self-reported health across 27 EU countries. But much remains uncertain, including how to best separate social isolation from loneliness, whether SIL follows a dose-response pattern, and how different aspects of social relationships impact health outcomes for various demographic groups.

Connecting the Dots Blog Series

To address these challenges, this series will explore the “easy stuff” first—how SIL is measured, the limitations of current interventions, and the opportunities to improve our understanding. Over the next several posts, we’ll dive into key areas that demand attention:

Blog Post 2: Misnomers of Modern Malaise: Stop calling loneliness an epidemic. Marlies Maes and I will question whether the term “epidemic” truly captures the complexity of loneliness and how this framing might obscure deeper social and structural causes.

Blog Post 3: Measuring Loneliness: A Two-Part Exploration. 

• A: Why Survey Numbers Might Not Always Mean What You Think They Mean – Miguel Silan, Sharanya Mosalakanti, Ivan Ropovik, and I will break down the complexities behind loneliness measurement, revealing why the numbers might not tell the full story.
• B: The Present and Future of Social Isolation and Loneliness Measurement – Sharanya Mosalakanti, Miguel Silan, Ivan Ropovik, and I will explore how to improve current measurement tools and discuss promising projects that aim to fill these gaps.

Blog Post 4: Interventions and Their Shortcomings. 

• A: The Importance of Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness: Why High-Quality Interventions Matter – Vivian Welch, Elizabeth Ghogomu, and I will review existing interventions, highlighting the limitations in evidence and the need for higher-quality studies.
• B: Transforming SIL Research: Solutions for Low-Quality Research Through Big Team Science – Vivian Welch, Elizabeth Ghogomu, and I will propose strategies for advancing intervention research and offer practical recommendations for practitioners in the absence of solid evidence.

Blog Post 5: Connecting the Dots Conclusion: A Way Forward. In our final post, we’ll summarize the series’ key takeaways and suggest concrete steps for future research and policy, ensuring that the global response to SIL is rooted in rigorous science and applicable to all.

Join us on this journey to better understand social isolation and loneliness—and more importantly, to figure out how we can do something about it.