What do we know about loneliness?

Elsewhere on this website we have mentioned that Hariak highly values knowledge about loneliness situations, i.e. what we have learned from different research and studies. Here we offer you information based on some of that research on loneliness.

Why can feelings of loneliness appear?

The occurrence of feelings and situations of loneliness is influenced by many different aspects. These aspects that can increase the likelihood of feelings of loneliness are called risk factors for loneliness. Here are some of them, although they are not the only ones:

  • How we think and perceive things, our identity and personality.

  • How we relate throughout our lives to family, friends or neighbours.

  • Our lifestyle, how we use our free time and our hobbies.

  • Major events such as retirement, loss of loved ones or illness.

  • Social and economic factors, e.g., our income or the quality of services we receive.

  • Where we live, such as our home and the environment around us, whether urban or rural.

  • Broader factors like cultural ideas and social biases, such as age discrimination or the stigma associated with loneliness.

What types of interventions are most effective for people who are lonely?

There are different ways to connect with others, to learn, share and build bonds that can transform everyday life. Here are some interventions designed to accompany people on this journey, which can be adapted to each individual’s needs and experiences.

  • Group interventions.

  • Community interventions.​​​​​​​Support, educational or training activities, to improve social skills, for example.

  • Support, educational or training activities, to improve social skills, for example.
  • Programmes targeted at specific groups, e.g., widows/widowers.

  • Interventions that build on existing community resources.

  • Interventions that encourage the exchange of experiences between generations, e.g. youth and the elderly

  • Mixed interventions that combine individual and group activities.

For more information on this topic, see section 3.2 of the Strategy.

How many people feel lonely in Gipuzkoa and what are their characteristics?

If you are interested in knowing how many people feel lonely in Gipuzkoa and what characteristics they have, you can visit the:​​​​​​​
Hariak Observatory.

There you can find data from a study carried out specifically in this territory.