Exploring place-based loneliness interventions: a realist review
Recent research increasingly acknowledges the association between place-based features and loneliness. However, knowledge on loneliness interventions from a place-based perspective is still lacking. The aim of this review is to investigate how and why loneliness interventions from a place-based pers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000417 |
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| author | Dorien Gryp Leen Heylen Jasper De Witte Wouter Schepers Freya Häussermann Daan Duppen Tine Van Regenmortel |
| author_facet | Dorien Gryp Leen Heylen Jasper De Witte Wouter Schepers Freya Häussermann Daan Duppen Tine Van Regenmortel |
| author_sort | Dorien Gryp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent research increasingly acknowledges the association between place-based features and loneliness. However, knowledge on loneliness interventions from a place-based perspective is still lacking. The aim of this review is to investigate how and why loneliness interventions from a place-based perspective can prevent and reduce loneliness. This review included 24 articles on place-based loneliness interventions.First, a thematic analysis on the program activity types of place-based loneliness interventions resulted in nine program activity types. These results show that most of the interventions targeted social environment characteristics and lacked a focus on physical environment characteristics. Reducing loneliness was the main goal of the program activities, whereas prevention was uncommon. Second, a realist analysis of the mechanisms explaining how and why these interventions are thought or expected to prevent and reduce loneliness led to a framework of three types of mechanisms. Mediating mechanisms present the social environment characteristics, which were defined as intermediate goals of the program activities. Moderating mechanisms, enabling the association between program activities and outcomes, illuminate the roles and attitudes of stakeholders. The resources – time and space – enhance a change in the other mechanisms by influencing the program activities.The results urge adoption of a broader range of strategies to respond to loneliness and contribute to a more holistic and structural response to loneliness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7114b259625749dfa03bfc9f50f78c4e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-5581 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-7114b259625749dfa03bfc9f50f78c4e2025-08-20T02:17:13ZengElsevierWellbeing, Space and Society2666-55812025-06-01810027510.1016/j.wss.2025.100275Exploring place-based loneliness interventions: a realist reviewDorien Gryp0Leen Heylen1Jasper De Witte2Wouter Schepers3Freya Häussermann4Daan Duppen5Tine Van Regenmortel6Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium; Corresponding author: Thomas More Kempen vzw, Centre of Expertise: Care and Wellbeing, Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440, Geel, Belgium.Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, BelgiumHIVA, University of Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumHIVA, University of Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumVrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Brussels, BelgiumVrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Brussels, BelgiumHIVA, University of Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumRecent research increasingly acknowledges the association between place-based features and loneliness. However, knowledge on loneliness interventions from a place-based perspective is still lacking. The aim of this review is to investigate how and why loneliness interventions from a place-based perspective can prevent and reduce loneliness. This review included 24 articles on place-based loneliness interventions.First, a thematic analysis on the program activity types of place-based loneliness interventions resulted in nine program activity types. These results show that most of the interventions targeted social environment characteristics and lacked a focus on physical environment characteristics. Reducing loneliness was the main goal of the program activities, whereas prevention was uncommon. Second, a realist analysis of the mechanisms explaining how and why these interventions are thought or expected to prevent and reduce loneliness led to a framework of three types of mechanisms. Mediating mechanisms present the social environment characteristics, which were defined as intermediate goals of the program activities. Moderating mechanisms, enabling the association between program activities and outcomes, illuminate the roles and attitudes of stakeholders. The resources – time and space – enhance a change in the other mechanisms by influencing the program activities.The results urge adoption of a broader range of strategies to respond to loneliness and contribute to a more holistic and structural response to loneliness.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000417Place-based factorsLonelinessInterventionsRealist review |
| spellingShingle | Dorien Gryp Leen Heylen Jasper De Witte Wouter Schepers Freya Häussermann Daan Duppen Tine Van Regenmortel Exploring place-based loneliness interventions: a realist review Wellbeing, Space and Society Place-based factors Loneliness Interventions Realist review |
| title | Exploring place-based loneliness interventions: a realist review |
| title_full | Exploring place-based loneliness interventions: a realist review |
| title_fullStr | Exploring place-based loneliness interventions: a realist review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring place-based loneliness interventions: a realist review |
| title_short | Exploring place-based loneliness interventions: a realist review |
| title_sort | exploring place based loneliness interventions a realist review |
| topic | Place-based factors Loneliness Interventions Realist review |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000417 |
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