From loneliness to social connection: charting a path to healthier societies: report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection
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World Health Organization
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xvii, 213 p.
The growing recognition of social connection as a fundamental determinant of health has brought increased attention to loneliness and social isolation as major global public health challenges. This report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection examines the nature, scale, drivers and impacts of social disconnection, and identifies evidence-based strategies to strengthen social connection and improve health and well-being across populations. Drawing on multidisciplinary research, global data and lived experience, the report defines key concepts and analyses the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation, highlighting that nearly one in six people worldwide is affected and that loneliness is associated with an estimated 871 000 deaths annually. It examines contributing factors, including demographic, social and environmental determinants, and documents substantial impacts on mortality, physical and mental health, and broader social and economic outcomes. The report also reviews interventions and policy responses, encompassing advocacy initiatives, national strategies, community-based approaches and individual-level interventions, as well as emerging roles of digital technologies. It adopts a dual focus on reducing social isolation and loneliness while actively promoting social connection. It concludes with a forward-looking agenda structured around five strategic areas—policy, research, interventions, measurement and engagement—to guide coordinated action. Intended for policy-makers, practitioners, researchers and stakeholders, it supports integrating social connection into public health and development agendas.
The growing recognition of social connection as a fundamental determinant of health has brought increased attention to loneliness and social isolation as major global public health challenges. This report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection examines the nature, scale, drivers and impacts of social disconnection, and identifies evidence-based strategies to strengthen social connection and improve health and well-being across populations. Drawing on multidisciplinary research, global data and lived experience, the report defines key concepts and analyses the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation, highlighting that nearly one in six people worldwide is affected and that loneliness is associated with an estimated 871 000 deaths annually. It examines contributing factors, including demographic, social and environmental determinants, and documents substantial impacts on mortality, physical and mental health, and broader social and economic outcomes. The report also reviews interventions and policy responses, encompassing advocacy initiatives, national strategies, community-based approaches and individual-level interventions, as well as emerging roles of digital technologies. It adopts a dual focus on reducing social isolation and loneliness while actively promoting social connection. It concludes with a forward-looking agenda structured around five strategic areas—policy, research, interventions, measurement and engagement—to guide coordinated action. Intended for policy-makers, practitioners, researchers and stakeholders, it supports integrating social connection into public health and development agendas.
Keywords
Loneliness, Social Isolation, Interpersonal Relations, Social Determinants of Health, Digital Technology, Quality of Life, Resilience, Psychological, Mental Health, Health Behavior, Population Groups, Population Health, Protective Factors, Community Health Services, Preventive Health Services, Health Communication, Health Planning Guidelines, Prevalence, Policy, Decision Making, Government, prevention and control, psychology