This collection is the 2nd volume of the Research Topic,
New Insights into Social Isolation and Loneliness.
Social isolation is generally recognized as a major public health problem and is widely recognized to have detrimental consequences for people's health, including reduced mental health, increased risk of disease (e.g., hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer), mortality, and cognitive decline. It is widely recognized that social isolation is a major cause of death. Combined with the recent COVID-19 and other changes in social conditions, social isolation, and loneliness are becoming an increasing concern. Social isolation can occur regardless of gender or age, and the occurrence process and related factors warrant further investigation.
The first objective of this Research Topic is to increase our understanding of social isolation and loneliness. For example, studies examining the process of social isolation and loneliness and related factors, surveys of actual conditions related to social isolation and loneliness, and studies examining the impact of past stressful experiences, such as disasters, on subsequent social isolation and loneliness are particularly welcome.
A secondary objective of this Research Topic is to increase our understanding of social isolation and loneliness at the neurobiological level and provide insights into developing and implementing treatment and prevention methods targeting specific risk groups. Any studies conducted from the approach of endocrinology, genetics, epigenetics, neurochemistry, or neuroimaging are welcome.
As shown by the variety of articles published in the first volume of this topic, loneliness represents a complex social problem transcending demographics, health, geography, and cultures. For the second volume, the topic editors welcome further submissions highlighting the underlying mechanisms, causes, predictors, and consequences of social isolation and loneliness in a variety of populations, as well as interventions and strategies to combat this public health issue.
Article types include, but are not limited to, Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Clinical Trials, Reviews - including Systematic Reviews and Mini Reviews, and Hypothesis and Theory articles. For Original Research and Brief Research Reports, the design can be cross-sectional, longitudinal, or interventional.
The following subtopics are particularly welcome:
• Psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of social isolation or loneliness;
• Psychological or behavioral interventions to prevent social isolation;
• Systems to help ameliorate social isolation or loneliness;
• Predictors of social isolation or loneliness;
• Direct and indirect interactions between specific environmental factors and genetic polymorphisms of social isolation or loneliness;
• Social isolation and loneliness in various populations, including older adults and people with physical health issues.