Sociology of loneliness

An introduction

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2301464
AutoresCécile Van De Velde (0000-0002-2979-2940, Université de Montréal, autor de correspondencia)
Año2026
Volumen69
Número1
Páginas3-18
Fecha de publicación2026-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaActa Sociologica (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0001-6993 • E-ISSN: 1502-3869
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/00016993251330960
OpenAlexW4409039649
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas102

At a time when loneliness emerges as a major social issue in the post-pandemic world, this article aims to introduce the emerging field of the sociology of loneliness. We argue that, while loneliness studies have traditionally been dominated by psychology, the sociological perspective is increasingly recognized as crucial for understanding contemporary forms of loneliness. Over the past two decades, whether through qualitative, ethnographic, or statistical methods, a growing number of sociological studies have revealed new facets of loneliness across the lifespan. Drawing on an extensive review of this literature, our aim is to identify the specific contributions and distinct features of the sociological approach to loneliness. We show that, compared to other perspectives, this approach fundamentally invites us to consider loneliness not just as an intimate phenomenon, but above all as a social phenomenon, whose causes and consequences are primarily played out at the social and political levels. It therefore reveals structural dimensions of loneliness that are less emphasized in other approaches: the weight of social norms, its social factors and manifestations, the role of inequalities, and its multiple subjective forms. Finally, the article explores the field's main contemporary research horizons and outlines key directions for its further development, highlighting potential intersections with other social sciences

Loneliness · Social science · Sociology · Employment and Welfare Studies · Health disparities and outcomes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Psychology · Social Psychology