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https://theconversation.com/why-loneliness-is-both-an-individual-thing-and-a-shared-result-of-the-cities-we-create-198069>
"If you’re feeling lonely, you’re not alone. Loneliness is an increasingly
common experience, and it can have severe consequences. People who feel lonely
are at higher risk of serious health issues, including heart disease, immune
deficiency and depression.
Traditionally, loneliness has been viewed as an individual problem requiring
individual solutions, such as psychological therapy or medication. Yet
loneliness is caused by feeling disconnected from society. It therefore makes
sense that treatments for loneliness should focus on the things that help us
make these broader connections.
The places where we live, work and play, for example, can promote meaningful
social interactions and help us build a sense of connection. Careful planning
and management of these places can create population-wide improvements in
loneliness.
Our research team is investigating how the way we design and plan our cities
impacts loneliness. We have just published a systematic review of research from
around the world. Overall, we found many aspects of the built environment
affect loneliness.
However, no single design attribute can protect everyone against loneliness.
Places can provide opportunities for social interactions, or present barriers
to them. Yet every individual responds differently to these opportunities and
barriers."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
