Reframing Loneliness as a Global Phenomenon: Insights From the Majority World

Recent data show that loneliness is more prevalent in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), compared to higher-income countries (HICs). This evidence suggests that loneliness is not simply an issue in HICs or a result of living alone. Instead, loneliness is closely tied to structural factors, some of which may be more salient in LMICs. In this perspective article, the contextual aspects that are closely tied to loneliness in research from LMICs, where the majority of the world's population resides, are presented. The discussed aspects go beyond the differentiation between individualism versus collectivism found in loneliness literature from HICs. Instead, the article sheds light on the often-cyclical relationships between loneliness and poverty, political instability, stigma, migration, culture, religion, and climate change. Shedding light on loneliness research from LMICs, this perspective provides novel and exciting directions for loneliness research in both HICs and LMICs. As these structural influences are often entangled and mostly affect those populations who are already socially and economically disadvantaged, this perspective echoes scholars who view loneliness as a social justice issue and, additionally, calls for recognizing loneliness as a truly global phenomenon.