Community Connection and Loneliness in Canada

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how loneliness relates to community size, participation and attitudes. We conducted two studies using three large-scale Canadian datasets (total N = 20,071). Community size was determined by census postal code areas, and loneliness, community participation and attitudes were evaluated by self-report ratings. In each cross-sectional study, we use correlations, multiple regression and one-way ANOVA analyses to evaluate the relationship of loneliness to urban–rural communities, group participation and ratings of connection and belongingness. In both studies, lower loneliness was predicted by higher feelings of connection in one's community. People who participated in groups were also less lonely, but the relationship was weak. Only Study 2 results showed a pattern of relationship between loneliness and urban/rural categories; participants living in urban communities identified higher loneliness. Attitudes about community connection are important predictors of loneliness where more physical variables of participation and size have a much smaller relationship. Measurement limitations and community characteristics are discussed.