Spotlight session

The potential of different theoretical perspectives for the understanding of loneliness

Organiser and Chair

Lena Dahlberg is a professor of social work at Dalarna University and affiliated to the Aging Research Center at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. The primary focus of her research is loneliness, social exclusion and informal care.

Content and structure

The attention given to loneliness in national and international policy has increased in recent years. For policy initiatives to have their intended effects, they need to be based on an understanding of what factors increase the risk of loneliness, which groups in the population are more vulnerable to loneliness, and how loneliness contributes to reduced mental and physical health. In this Spotlight Session, four eminent researchers will each present a theoretical perspective and outline its potential for understanding loneliness, ranging from macro to micro level theories. The presentation will be followed by a discussion including the researchers and members of the audience.

Session participants

• Susanne Bücker, Professor, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany
• Oliver Huxhold, Head of Research: Social Relationships & Health, The German Centre of Gerontology, Germany
• Fredrica Nyqvist, Associate Professor, Åbo Akademi University, Finland
• Christina Victor, Professor, Brunel University, United Kingdom