INterdisciplinary LOneliness research NEtwork (InLoNe)

• Applicant: Dr. Susanne Marilies Bücker
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 497278260

The prevalence and consequences of loneliness are becoming an increasingly important concern for the public and policymakers. For example, the CDU, CSU and SPD parties have committed in their coalition agreement to develop strategies and concepts to prevent and combat loneliness. Furthermore, loneliness is now being researched in many disciplines, including psychology, sociology, public health, philosophy, and medicine. Interdisciplinary scientific exchange on loneliness appears needed, but has been lacking. Thus, I am applying for funding for the INterdisciplinary LOneliness research NEtwork (InLoNe). The overarching aim of InLoNe is to integrate scientific knowledge about loneliness by networking scholars across disciplines who conduct research on loneliness. Specifically, InLoNe aims to: (1) to compile the current state of knowledge on loneliness from an interdisciplinary perspective and to develop an integrative framework on loneliness, (2) to conduct empirical studies addressing the most pressing questions in loneliness research, (3) to initiate a citizen science approach in loneliness research (e.g., to involve people with lived experience of loneliness as important and proactive partners the research process), and to promote research communication on loneliness. First, a review article will be written that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of current loneliness research from the perspectives of different disciplines and derives implications for action in future loneliness research. The article will be published in an international, interdisciplinary journal. In addition, interdisciplinary collaborative studies will be developed in small groups and published in international journals. Existing data sets of network members or panel data can be used, or new data collection can be initiated. Particularly noteworthy are the potentials of pooling different data sets of network members to answer research questions on loneliness as well as the parallelized measurement of loneliness in future data collections. Network members will provide each other feedback on their research projects and seek advice from invited experts. The citizen science approach will also enable participatory loneliness research. The planned interdisciplinary work requires a flexible structure, as is possible in a DFG-funded scientific network. We consider the DFG funding as the starting point of a larger and long-term research initiative so that a continuous stream of interdisciplinary loneliness projects can be stimulated.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks