A significant social stigma is associated with loneliness. The prevalence of social isolation, in the dawn of the 21st century points to the growing isolation in America. Lonely people who commonly display negative self-perceptions, show great difficulty to establish social ties, and that may be related to their personal inadequacies, or socially undesirable attributes. Lonely people suffer from a low social perception, painting them as less psychologically adjusted, and not very capable in relating to others. That is being expressed in such indicators as social networks which are smaller and sometimes do not exist at all. This commentary, briefly, reviews the nature of loneliness, how is love related to isolation, and the myriad of approaches to address loneliness and its pain.

Interpersonal relationships are a fundamental human need [...]

Loneliness is understood as a subjective experience resulting from unmet social relationship expectations. As most loneliness research has been conducted in higher-income-countries, there is limited understanding of loneliness in relation to diverse cultural, economic, and socio-political factors. To address this gap, the present review systematically synthesises existing qualitative studies on the experience of loneliness and social relationship expectations in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Between June and July 2022, six online databases (Embase, Ovid Medline, APA PsycINFO, Global Health, Web of Science, Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed studies from LMICs on loneliness using qualitative methods. There were no restrictions on publication date, language, or study setting. Studies that solely focused on social isolation or were conducted with children (<16 years) were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed with the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. After deduplication, a total of 7866 records were identified and screened for inclusion, resulting in 24 studies published between 2002 and 2022. The included studies represent data from 728 participants in 15 countries across West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Mali), East Africa (Uganda, Kenya), North Africa (Egypt), West Asia (Iran), South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines). Data were analysed combining inductive and deductive coding, summarised using narrative synthesis, and examined by geographical region. Common features of loneliness included rejection, overthinking, and pain. Loneliness was related to depression across regions. Whereas loneliness tended to be distinguished from social isolation in studies from Africa, it tended to be related with being alone in studies from Asia. Poverty and stigma were common barriers to fulfilling social relationship expectations. This review illustrates how loneliness and expectations are contextually embedded, with some expectations possibly being specific to a certain culture or life stage, having implications for assessment of and interventions for loneliness worldwide.

Being hospitalized or undergoing a surgical procedure may be quite an isolating and lonely experience. This review explored loneliness in the hospital and surgical setting, and highlights the emotional and psychological challenges experienced by patients during their healthcare journey. While hospitals traditionally provide medical and surgical care for a wide array of conditions, the irony lies in their potential to disrupt one’s daily routines, contribute to loss of control, prolong hospital stays, and limit connections with family and loved ones leading to negative psychological well-being and intensifying feelings of loneliness. The implications of loneliness in the hospital and surgical contexts are discussed along with recommendations for improving the healthcare system’s response to the negative health consequences associated with loneliness. Coping strategies are discussed, including social support mechanisms, and approaches to healthy behaviors, i.e. mindfulness, which contribute to mitigating loneliness, in the context of hospitalizations and surgery.

Loneliness is thean experience that is intertwined inwith being human, but since it is so painful and troubling, all of us try to avoid it. It has short- and long-term negative consequences, including its influence on our life satisfaction, health, and mortality. Various causal factors were explored regarding loneliness, which is essentially a subjective experience. This commentary aims to highlight the contribution of culture, be it collectivistic or individualistic, to the development of loneliness. Since loneliness is correlated with the expectation of being with others and part of a community, research found that people in collectivistic cultures are lonelier than those in individualistic ones. Ethnicity also contributes to the development, and was thus reviewed. While it beingis an essential part of being human, loneliness can, indeed, be attenuated and its pain lessened, and culture may predict ways of doing so.

Loneliness has been with us since the beginning of time. Many ask themselves what can they do about loneliness? It is impossible, of course, to eradicate it. It is simply part of being human, just like hunger and physical pain. We can, though, address its pain and possibly lower its frequency in our lives. This article reviews the field of treatment of the pain caused by loneliness, and assisting people, of various ages, reduce its frequency. The appointment of a minister of loneliness in the UK, may be a right step in getting loneliness out of the “closet”, and in the forefront of public awareness and the state’s attempts to address it on a national level.

In this paper, through a thematic literature review of recent studies, our objective was to explore the impact of loneliness and its effects on health. We emphasize the human need for a sense of belonging and societal inclusion. We further discuss the link of loneliness to physiological alterations, to the development and exacerbation of mental health conditions, the influence it has on cognitive processes, and the role it plays in contributing to maladaptive coping strategies. Contrary to the feelings of loneliness, solitude and its benefits for self-reflection and personal growth are explored. The prevalence of loneliness and its cultural similarities and differences are discussed at a global level. Moreover, this review explores the intricate relationship between loneliness and various health outcomes, including chronic illness and mortality risks. It further emphasizes the importance of acknowledging loneliness as a public health concern and the need for interventions at the individual and societal level to mitigate its adverse effects.

Loneliness, social isolation, aloneness, and solitude are frequently used interchangeably but are actually different. Loneliness is particularly salient now, due to the international restrictions on social activities imposed as a result of COVID-19, which brought loneliness into open discussion worldwide. The article highlights loneliness as a multidimensional construct and reviews its impact on cognitive, behavioral and affective functioning. In doing so, particular attention is given to loneliness as it manifests through the various life stages, as well as how personal predisposition and contextual factors may exacerbate it. in this article we also review solitude, and a clear distinction between loneliness and solitude is established. Finally, we conclude by addressing the global claims of loneliness during the pandemic and its implications. We offer a point of view which may assist in coping with it.

This paper, relying on a thematic review of the literature, aimed to explore the influence of culture on human relations, particularly on love. We highlighted the innate need of humans to belong and be part of a community and, moreover, partake in an intimate relationship. Most humans yearn for intimacy, and thus it was defined and described. In our Western culture, intimacy is often found in marriage, usually built on love. Love, if not nurtured, may fade, and so we described what happens when it does. Romantic relationships, where love is usually expressed and actualized, were examined, including how it is shown, how time affects love, and what causes love relationships to be marred by loneliness. The main part of the paper is devoted to examining the effect of culture on love, its expression, and on romantic relationships. While love may be universal, its development, expression, and importance in intimate relationships differ depending on the culture and era in which it occurs.

Child abuse and neglect is harmful, not only when children grow up but has serious consequences and negative influences for the duration of their lives. It may affect them emotionally, physically, neurologically, sexually, and relationally. This chapter examines those varied areas affected by child maltreatment.

Loneliness is an integral part of life. It may be experienced periodically or on a continuous basis, but regardless, humans are all aware of its existence and influence on their lives. In this commentary, we examine the loneliness that humans face, from cradle to grave, and how does it feel. Age, life experience, maturation personal awareness, and cultural background bring about and affect our loneliness experiences. We highlight the experience as it presents itself in each of life’s stages.

One fundamental issue with addressing child maltreatment is the embeddedness of social and cultural constructs within what exactly constitutes child abuse and neglect. Collective social norms provide a lens through which community members can discern lawful versus unlawful behavior and thus understand what is acceptable behavior. From a global perspective, the issue of child maltreatment is deeply impacted by social norms and variations in what constitutes adverse experiences among children across geographical contexts. The present chapter reviews global statistics on child maltreatment and discusses cultural perspectives on its phenomenon.

This is a narrative review addressing the topic of romantic infidelity, its causes and its consequences. Love is commonly a source of much pleasure and fulfillment. However, as this review points out, it can also cause stress, heartache and may even be traumatic in some circumstances. Infidelity, which is relatively common in Western culture, can damage a loving, romantic relationship to the point of its demise. However, by highlighting this phenomenon, its causes and its consequences, we hope to provide useful insight for both researchers and clinicians who may be assisting couples facing these issues. We begin by defining infidelity and illustrating the various ways in which one may become unfaithful to their partner. We explore the personal and relational factors that enhance an individual’s tendency to betray their partner, the various reactions related to a discovered affair and the challenges related to the nosological categorization of infidelity-based trauma, and conclude by reviewing the effects of COVID-19 on unfaithful behavior, as well as clinical implications related to infidelity-based treatment. Ultimately, we hope to provide a road map, for academicians and clinicians alike, of what some couples may experience in their relationships and how can they be helped.