B3245 - Econometrics of loneliness - 30/01/2019

B number: 
B3245
Principal applicant name: 
Claryn Kung | Centre for Health Economics, Monash University (Australia)
Co-applicants: 
Professor Michael Shields, Professor David Johnston
Title of project: 
Econometrics of loneliness
Proposal summary: 

Loneliness has, in recent years, become a priority in national public health agendas in developed countries, given increasing recognition of the detrimental effects of loneliness on health and mortality. The literature has often focussed on loneliness among older adults, but recent surveys have revealed a similar prevalence among younger adults up to age 25.

The aim of this research project is to understand whether circumstances and experiences from childhood can be linked to loneliness and social isolation reported in adulthood. The ALSPAC also contains multiple reports of loneliness across teenage years and young adulthood, which would allow us to understand its dynamics; for example, whether there are different patterns of loneliness across time between individuals. Rich reports of physical and mental health, including disease-related biomarkers, would also aid in analysing relationships between loneliness and health, to complement evidence seen in later adulthood.

It is imperative to identify individuals at higher risk of loneliness in later life, and early life events or circumstances that can play an important role in predicting later life loneliness, towards reducing societal loneliness via public policy and private decisions. Identifying factors from early life, rather than contemporaneous factors, is beneficial to inform early preventive strategies, and to target such factors rather than mechanisms (via which these factors operate) for more efficient allocation of resources. Understanding whether and how loneliness is predictive of poor health earlier in life may also provide some insights into the mechanisms via which loneliness predicts excess mortality in late adulthood.

Impact of research: 
Loneliness and social isolation have been shown to be associated with premature mortality and poorer physical and mental health. It is therefore important to understand their risk factors, and in light of recent findings showing 'nature' (genetic heritability) to play a very small role in social interaction, the role of 'nurture' (environment including circumstances and experiences) may be particularly important to explore. Looking back into one's childhood circumstances in a systematic and comprehensive manner may aid in improve the design of policies and interventions designing earlier and/or more targeted interventions, towards alleviating this societal problem more efficiently. This research will also contribute to the sparse research literature on this topic, complementing the larger literature on risk factors of loneliness in later adulthood.
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 25 January, 2019
Date proposal approved: 
Wednesday, 30 January, 2019
Keywords: 
Health Economics, Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Mental health, Statistical methods, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Communication (including non-verbal), Social science, Statistical methods