The relation between physical and social neighbourhood characteristics and loneliness. A systematic review

Abstract

Loneliness has predominantly been examined from an individual and relational perspective, with limited focus on the broader environmental context, including the role of neighbourhoods. This systematic review aims to address this gap by synthesising findings from 112 studies that explore how physical and social neighbourhood characteristics contribute to loneliness. The review highlights that physical characteristics, such as the use of green spaces, walkability, access to amenities, and neighbourhood aesthetics, are associated with lower levels of loneliness. Social characteristics, such as neighbourhood cohesion, feeling connected to the neighbourhood, and neighbour interactions, are consistently associated with reduced loneliness. Additionally, perceived neighbourhood quality is also related to loneliness. This review further demonstrates that subjective perceptions of neighbourhood characteristics generally exhibit stronger associations with loneliness than objective measures.

Although methodological limitations, such as the predominance of cross-sectional studies and variability in measurement tools, are acknowledged, the review underscores the importance of integrating neighbourhood-level factors into loneliness research and policy. Future research should use multidimensional approaches to loneliness, considering neighbourhood interrelationships and scales at which these factors operate, to better inform public strategies aimed at tackling loneliness and enhancing community well-being.