Drawing on vast sources of data including literary works, case studies, and large-scale sample surveys covering a broad spectrum of countries (Europe and beyond), the empirical research of this study produces and presents simple but effective evidence for the social nature and variations of loneliness.

Keming Yang is an associate professor of sociology at Durham University, UK

List of Figures and Tables

Preface

Chapter 1 Loneliness: Is it a problem?

Chapter 2 Loneliness as a social problem
Chapter 3 Loneliness: A problem only for older people?

Chapter 4 Aloneness, Loneliness, and Solitude

Chapter 5 Lonely among others

Chapter 6 Loneliness across social groups

Chapter 7 Loneliness and class

Chapter 8 National disposition towards loneliness

Chapter 9 Tackling loneliness: Messages to the lonely and the non-lonely

Chapter 10 Conclusions and reflections

Bibliography

Index