Problematizing loneliness as a public health issue

An analysis of policy in the United Kingdom

Bibliographic Data

ID6420933
AuthorsElian E Jentoft (0000-0002-6892-9217), Tony Sandset (0000-0001-6813-9322, University of Oslo, corresponding author), Marit Haldar (0000-0002-3505-1073, Simula Metropolitan Center for Digital Engineering)
Year2024
Volume19
Issue1
Pages1-18
Publication date2024-01-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCritical Policy Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1946-0171 • E-ISSN: 1946-018X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19460171.2024.2306240
OpenAlexW4391104205
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited58

This article presents an analysis of discourses in recent UK policy on loneliness reduction. We use Carol Bacchi’s ‘what is the problem represented to be’ approach (WPR) to explore how the problem of loneliness produces specific solutions, subject positions, and forms of responsibility. Our findings suggest loneliness is understood as a public health threat that both emerges from and causes ill health. Using Foucault’s concept of governmentality, we argue that policy discourses construct loneliness as a problem requiring governance to minimize health ‘risks.’ Loneliness is problematized as creating strain on health and social care systems, as well as the economy by reducing productivity. The projected ‘costs’ of loneliness are managed via social prescribing. Social prescribing positions GPs and link workers as guides whose role is to transfer lonely subjects away from costly healthcare settings and toward the civil sector. The policies are produced in a context of continued budget cuts which we propose may threaten the effectiveness of projects like social prescribing. Social determinants of health, closely tied to loneliness, are largely left unaddressed in favor of solutions that individualize and responsibilize lonely citizens

Context (archaeology · Corporate governance · Economics · Governmentality · Health care · Loneliness · Management · Political science · Politics · Public health · Public policy · Public relations · Social policy · Sociology · Art Therapy and Mental Health · Community Health and Development · Law · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Health Policy

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Open DOIOpen Access