The Loneliness Epidemic

Introduction

In the fall of 2020, I moved into a dorm in Atlanta, Ga to start my final year of undergrad. It was the middle of the pandemic and classes were virtual. Besides my roommate and two neighbors, my friends were in various parts of the world, and I only saw them through a screen if I had a class with them. I spent a lot of time feeling lonely. Three months ago, I moved to a new city in a new state and left everyone I knew back in Georgia. I make sure to call them, but sometimes I still feel lonely. Ironically, I am not alone in feeling alone. United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy began calling out loneliness as an epidemic during his first term in the Obama Administration. In 2020, Murthy released a book titled Together: The healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World where he makes a case for loneliness as a public health concern; however, this problem is not reserved for the United States (Brown, 2020). In 2018, the UK appointed a Minister for Loneliness after a 2017 report by the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness found that nine million people reported often or always feeling lonely (Alberti, 2019). Japan followed suit and designated a cabinet post to alleviate social isolation in February 2021 in hopes (Kodama, 2021). Countries such as Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands are experiencing similar problems (Holt-Lunstad, 2017; Alberti, 2019). The list of countries dealing with the negative effects of loneliness is quite vast and has only been exacerbated by the stay-at-home orders that accompanied Covid-19. The first step in tackling this issue is understanding what loneliness is.

Before the 1800s, the word lonely or loneliness simply referred to the state of being alone (Alberti, 2019). Now loneliness is best understood as a cluster of emotions or a discrepancy between desired connections and actual connections. Looking at loneliness as the result of personal needs not being met helps with the distinction between loneliness and social isolation (Morava & Andrew, 2021). Social isolation can be measured by social interactions and can be chosen based on a person’s preference. Loneliness is harder to measure due to how personal its causes are and how different the impact looks on people (Alberti, 2019). Each country has its societal standards, and every individual has circumstances that have helped contribute to this problem. For that reason, this paper will specifically look at loneliness in the United States and its causes, effects, and possible solutions.

Context

The event that happened in the 1800s sparking this shift in language was the industrial age. The industrial age sparked the migration of people to new cities and led to an issue called urban sprawl. Urban sprawl refers to the unplanned urban and suburban development that creates low-density environments with high segregation between residential and commercial areas (Urban Sprawl, 2021). This type of development has many negative effects on the environment, social life, and economy (Urban Sprawl, 2021). Also, during this time factories reinforced competition which was in turn supported by social Darwinism or survival of the fittest. This physical and mental division of people along with the growth of psychology and the separation of the mind and body helped to solidify the individualism that we see today. For over two hundred years we have learned that the individual pursuit of happiness is more important than the collective pursuit (Alberti, 2019). This idea of individualism goes against our very identity as humans and so many people are suffering because of it.

Societal changes are not the only reason for the increase in loneliness and social isolation. Referencing a 2010 national survey of adults aged 45 and older, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Brigham Young University Julianne Holt-Lunstad says that just over 42 million older adults experience chronic loneliness (Holt-Lunstad, 2017). One of the biggest reasons for this is that the number of Americans living alone increased from 5% in 1920 to 27% in 2016 (Ayed, 2019). In addition to this, more than half of the US adult population is unmarried with 20% having never been married. There has also been an increase in childlessness. Some other risk factors for loneliness include having few friends, strained relationships, and no participation in social activities as well as being retired and having mental and/ or physical impairments (Holt-Lunstad, 2017).

This loneliness problem is most prevalent in large cities despite the large concentration of people. Cities are designed in ways that unintentionally promote loneliness. When handling large populations rules and restrictions help encourage order and security. Unfortunately, these rules add to the isolation of people (McLane & Pable, 2020; Ayed, 2019). Apartments may have security measures that prevent people from residential floors that you don’t live on. This helps with the perception of security but at the cost of building connections with other apartment residents. Too many restrictions can also cause people to retreat inward and reduce the likelihood of interacting with others when the opportunity arises. The scale and materials used in cities also play a role in increasing isolation. A study on Whole Foods in New York City found that the expansive glass storefront repelled passersby and actually caused them to speed by the building (Peavey, 2020a).

People need connections to survive. From the moment mammals are born we need our mothers to survive. Hunter-gatherer societies depended on the community to survive, and our brains still connect community with safety (Holt-Lunstad, 2017) We can look at Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which divides human motivation into five tiers of needs: physiological, safety, social/ belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. According to Maslow having issues in the lower tiers makes it harder to move up so loneliness or unmet needs in social and belonging needs could make it difficult to work on esteem and self-actualization (McLeod, 2020). We can also look at Roy F. Baumeister and Mark R. Leary’s article The Need to Belong: Desire for Interpersonal Attachments as a Fundamental Human Motivation. The belongingness hypothesis states that “human beings have a pervasive drive to form and maintain at least a minimum quantity of lasting, positive, and significant interpersonal relationships” (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Furthermore, there are different types of relationships that we need. In a podcast with Brené Brown, Vivek Murthy talks about a part of his book where he writes about three dimensions of loneliness. Intimate or emotional loneliness is the longing for a close confidant or intimate partner; relational loneliness is the yearning for quality friendships and social companionship and support; and collective loneliness is a hunger for a network or community of people who share your sense of purpose and interest (Brown, 2020). These dimensions highlight the complexities of the relationships we need. Baumeister and Leary determined that interpersonal relationships are a need and not merely a want due to the lack thereof resulting in psychological and physical health problems. With more research, we now know that these problems are much bigger than they originally thought.

Loneliness is often seen as a mental health problem because emotions are understood as something that only happens in our heads. Cultural Historian Fay Bound Alberti argues that loneliness is just as physical as it is mental (Alberti, 2019). Whether it is a mental health issue or not, there is plenty of evidence that shows that mental health issues rarely stay in the brain and often result in many physical ailments. Loneliness is no different. One of the most common possible effects of loneliness is depression. Chronic loneliness may also amplify brain chemicals associated with fear and anxiety which can lead to more social avoidance resulting in a dangerous cycle (Crowhurst Lennard, n.d.). Loneliness has an increased rate of mortality while social connection has a 50% reduced risk of early death. The magnitude of this issue is comparable to smoking and greater than well-known risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). Loneliness has also been found to raise levels of stress hormones which can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, arthritis, dementia, and type 2 diabetes. There is also evidence for disrupted sleep and accelerated cognitive decline (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015; Brody, 2017). Steve Cole, a genomics researcher at the University of California Los Angeles, found that when people feel lonely, they have significantly higher levels of norepinephrine in their blood. Norepinephrine protects people in life-threatening situations and stimulates the production of white blood cells needed to heal wounds. This chemical also shuts down immune defenses meaning people who experience chronic loneliness become more vulnerable to infections (Crowhurst Lennard, n.d.). Loneliness is most prevalent in adolescents and young adults then it peaks again in elderly people. In the most extreme condition, we can look at how social isolation has been used as a form of torture and punishment for prisoners. In these cases, isolation can lead to madness, self-immolation, and suicide. With such serious consequences, society must work together to help decrease the rate of loneliness. Careers that focus on creating environments, such as architecture, interior design, urban planning, and landscape architecture, have a wonderful opportunity to make a huge difference in the world and start tackling this very pressing issue.

Discussion

People need community spaces, and it is our responsibility as designers to create spaces that foster meaningful connections. Several characteristics can be implemented in spaces that increase its ability to foster community. An article by HKS looks at Italian piazzas and downtown parks as good examples of spaces designed for community; “these spaces embrace the underlying principles that connect place and people, or environment and behavior” (Peavey, 2020b) Public squares and fountains create a gathering spot within these spaces that are often used to host markets or celebratory events (Peavey, 2020b). Another important aspect of designing communal spaces is having different zones within the larger space that fit multiple social scales. Communal spaces should be able to accommodate everyone from individuals to large groups. Something that often drives people away from spaces is the idea that they will not have a choice once inside. In an article looking at community spaces in permanent supportive housing, Drs. Yelena McLane and Jill Pable look at what characteristics encourage or discourage people from using these communal spaces. One of the key characteristics was functional zoning. Participants using the housing suggested that the spaces should be large enough to accommodate different activities which would allow different people to use the same space in a way that is most comfortable to them. Looking back at piazzas and parks, these spaces are visually divided into concentric circles. The center of a park is a focal point that people use for dancing, singing, or playing games while the periphery is used for observation without being exposed (Peavey, 2020b). It is important to note that it is the combination of activity zones that allows for communal spaces to flourish. A characteristic that supports these activity zones is visual access or visibility. People are more likely to use spaces if they can assess the space from a distance and then make a choice about whether or not they would like to enter (McLane & Pable, 2020). The term for this is “prospect and refuge” theory which describes how environments can feel more secure by allowing people to observe and space without being seen (Peavey, 2020a).

To help with designing spaces that foster community, we can look at spaces that have already been used in this manner for many years. Ray Oldenburg developed the concept of third place. According to Oldenburg, there are three types of places. First places are informal, private places such as a person’s home and second places are more formal, places such as school or work. Third places exist between these as informal public spaces. Some places that fall into this category are libraries, cafes, dog parks, and farmer’s markets (Matthews & Dolley, 2018). Third places offer the perfect groundwork to begin to foster meaningful connections. We can look at farmer’s markets and dog parks to see some of the important characteristics of third places. There is a repetitive use of these spaces which allows people to often run into the same people multiple times. This familiarity helps people feel more comfortable speaking to each other. There is also a similarity of interest. Looking back at Dr. Vivek Murthy’s dimensions of loneliness, collective loneliness is caused by the lack of a network or community with common interests and purpose (Brown, 2020). With dog parks, everyone there has a dog and likes dogs. Without any extra effort, the people using these spaces can build relationships through the common interest of dogs. Farmer’s markets have even more opportunities to build relationships with booths selling a variety of items that offers a variety of topics to jumpstart connections. Another extremely important characteristic of third places is the leveling of playing fields. Nobody knows how much money someone has or what their job is at a dog park or farmer’s market. Typically, these spaces remove all defining factors of a person except the reason for their presence. Nothing else matters at a dog park outside of a person having a dog (Butler & Diaz, 2016).

HKS Vice President, architect, and design researcher Erin Peavey has written a report about “six guidelines for creating third places that support social health”. The first guideline is accessibility which refers to creating spaces that are safe, inclusive, and walkable (Peavey, 2020a). Urban sprawl created a big issue with large cities where they are developed in a way that caters to vehicular mobility. As mentioned before, incidental interactions encourage familiarity and comfortability which leads to more social connections. Walking in the same direction as someone on the way to work or waiting at the same bus or train station every morning helps foster community. This is difficult to do when sidewalks are small, most people take cars, and streets are full of traffic causing stress among people who are walking. Dr. Suzzanne Lennard wrote that urban planners need to incorporate wide sidewalks and traffic-tamed or traffic-free streets to foster community (Crowhurst Lennard, n.d.). People in walkable neighborhoods report being more likely to trust others and be socially involved (Peavey, 2020a). These ideas also help people with disabilities move around the city. Often elderly and disabled populations do not receive enough social interactions because getting around in the city is too difficult and dangerous, so they just stay in their homes (Ayed, 2019). Third places should also be accessible to children offering areas that cater to their interests and anthropometrics.

The next two guidelines are activation and choice. As mentioned before, space programming plays an important role in who a space is for and whether or not it will be used. McLane and Pable write that common spaces should feature ambiguous programming (McLane & Pable, 2020). Having a zone with tables is an example of ambiguous programming. People who use that area are given the opportunity to use the surfaces provided for activities ranging from board games to a picnic. Having areas like this allow community spaces to be flexible and adapt to the present needs of the community it is serving. The next guideline is human scale. Creating spaces at a human scale makes the space more intimate and inviting. Research has found that city blocks designed at a human scale promote more social interactions and lingering whereas city blocks with large expansive monotonous storefronts increase stress responses and speed walking (Peavey, 2020a). A very familiar theory and the next guideline is the use of nature. People in urban environments are often deprived of the greenery and outdoor spaces needed to support their physical and mental health.

The final guideline is that third places should offer a sense of place. Community spaces should reflect the culture, values, and aesthetics of the community they are serving (Peavey, 2020a). All the previously mentioned characteristics and guidelines for a good community space are extremely important but I believe they are meaningless if there is no sense of place. This can often be seen in gentrified areas. Things are designed in a trendy and modern way, but it only appeals to people outside of the community, so they come in and end up displacing the original people. A way to solidify a sense of belonging within a space is to have the opportunity for personalization. Referencing articles on hominess, McLane and Pable wrote that “personalization is crucial to emotionally investing in a place and creating a sense of ownership (McLane & Pable, 2020). An article by HKS on designing to reduce loneliness says that the best connector spaces are those without ownership (Peavey, 2020b). I believe the exact opposite is necessary for developing these types of spaces. If people have a sense of ownership in a space, they will feel more comfortable and reduce anxieties. Comfortability allows for the levels of vulnerability necessary to actually interact with people and begin forming those meaningful connections. The important thing here is to make sure this sense of ownership doesn’t create an “us versus them” situation.

Like most problems, loneliness cannot be designed away. One argument that could be made is that there is an issue with calling loneliness an epidemic. Alberti says that using medical terms such as epidemic uproots the issues of loneliness from their historical and social context. She also says that this may result in people looking for one-size-fits-all solutions to a very individualized issue. A medical solution would only address symptoms and not causes (Morava & Andrew, 2021). Others believe the problem with speaking about loneliness as an epidemic that affects everyone blatantly ignores the inequalities that make people more vulnerable than others (Ayed, 2019). We’ve seen this with the Covid-19 pandemic. Media pushed the notion that “we are all in this together” but the way the pandemic affected people was largely dependent on their socio-economic status. The people that could afford to order groceries and takeout all the time or had spare bedrooms to quarantine in or even the option to work from home experienced a very different pandemic than those without those options. The same happens with conversations about loneliness. Like most conversations, poverty-stricken, and homeless people don’t receive the specific attention they need. Someone without extra money cannot always join social groups and a homeless person cannot benefit from community spaces in an apartment building.

Another issue is that third places across the US are closing despite them being more important than ever (Peavey, 2020a). Libraries are such an important third place offering free access to books, computers, and printers as well as just a form of temporary shelter for those without permanent shelter. Despite this information, some people do not see the importance of libraries. The decline of third places can result in poor physical and mental health due to limited access to resources. Diminishing social infrastructure also exacerbates problems such as isolation, crime, addiction, sociopolitical polarization, inequality, and even climate change (Finlay et al., 2019). Lack of community will further divide populations and make work towards building diversity and equality more difficult. Designers and the like are going to have to work to highlight the importance of these types of spaces.

The biggest problem with designing to combat loneliness is that once the space is built, it is up to people to make them work. Tony Matthews and Joanne Dolley, lecturer and Ph.D. candidate at Griffith University respectfully, write that the biggest barrier may be our willingness or lack thereof to seek out and participate in third places. There is a lot of shame and stigma attached to negative feelings such as loneliness. There is a level of vulnerability necessary in admitting to people that you’re feeling lonely. This same vulnerability is needed to begin to foster meaningful relationships.

Conclusion

Loneliness has plagued the human race for years and the problem is only going to continue to worsen unless multiple groups of people start to intervene. This problem requires policy changes in zoning and permits and possibly government incentives since community spaces do not always generate revenue. I believe that all spaces should incorporate some sort of community space. These spaces cannot just exist as a small parks in the middle of the city. Cities need to be planned around these spaces to impact the most amount of people. Furthermore, we should be advocating for these spaces in any projects that we work on. We should look at enhancing existing third places to actively foster meaningful connections. Throughout the building and designing process, we will need to make every decision with people first in mind. A community space designed without a clear focus on the needs of the present community can easily turn into gentrification. Losing sight of the user will also discourage people from using these spaces. As citizens of cities and towns, we must start initiating these connections. As uncomfortable as it may be in the beginning, we have to design community-building activities. Ask your coworkers or classmates out to grab a coffee or go on a hike. Start a conversation with the person you always run into at the gym. We need to understand that most people are looking for social connections. Everyone doesn’t need to become your best friend but at the very least you can encourage someone else to start these connections. As Dr. Murthy writes in his book, “creating a connected life begins with the decisions we make in our day-to-day life. … It requires courage, the courage to be vulnerable, to take a chance on others, to believe in ourselves; but as we build connected lives, we make it possible to build a connected world” (Brown, 2020).

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