Loneliness Across the Life Span

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  • Pamela Qualter
    School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom
  • Janne Vanhalst
    School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Rebecca Harris
    Department of Education and Psychology, University of Bolton, United Kingdom
  • Eeske Van Roekel
    Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Gerine Lodder
    Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • Munirah Bangee
    School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom
  • Marlies Maes
    School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Belgium
  • Maaike Verhagen
    Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Description

<jats:p> Most people have experienced loneliness and have been able to overcome it to reconnect with other people. In the current review, we provide a life-span perspective on one component of the evolutionary theory of loneliness—a component we refer to as the reaffiliation motive (RAM). The RAM represents the motivation to reconnect with others that is triggered by perceived social isolation. Loneliness is often a transient experience because the RAM leads to reconnection, but sometimes this motivation can fail, leading to prolonged loneliness. We review evidence of how aspects of the RAM change across development and how these aspects can fail for different reasons across the life span. We conclude with a discussion of age-appropriate interventions that may help to alleviate prolonged loneliness. </jats:p>

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