Executive Summary

Loneliness is linked to poorer mental and physical health and an elevated risk of mortality. Poverty increases the risk of loneliness because it limits people’s social opportunities. This happens not only at the individual level, through low income, unemployment, and insecure housing, but also at the systemic level, through deprived neighborhoods, weak welfare support, and a lack of accessible places to meet. Loneliness is therefore not only an individual problem, but a systemic policy issue with consequences for social cohesion, labor market participation, public service demand, trust, and civic engagement. Policies that reduce financial strain, strengthen welfare support, and invest in inclusive social infrastructure can help break the reinforcing cycle between poverty and loneliness.

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