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Measures of Social Isolation

Author

Listed:
  • Diego Zavaleta

    (University of Oxford)

  • Kim Samuel

    (McGill University)

  • China T. Mills

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

Social isolation is a deprivation of social connectedness. It is a crucial aspect that continues to be named by people as a core impediment for achieving well-being and as a relevant factor for understanding poverty. However it is not routinely included in surveys that provide data on multidimensional poverty measurement. Although the challenge of measuring social connectedness is daunting, this paper argues that existing research in several fields provides solid ground for the construction of basic internationally comparable indicators that measure specific aspects of social isolation. In particular, this paper synthesises the relevant literature on the measurement of social isolation and related phenomena, and on the basis of this synthetic review, proposes a module of indicators to measure social connectedness that could be feasibly incorporated into an internationally comparable multi-topic household survey.

Suggested Citation

  • Diego Zavaleta & Kim Samuel & China T. Mills, 2017. "Measures of Social Isolation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 367-391, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:131:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-016-1252-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-016-1252-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ruta Clair & Maya Gordon & Matthew Kroon & Carolyn Reilly, 2021. "The effects of social isolation on well-being and life satisfaction during pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Rassaby, Madeleine & Shakya, Holly B. & Fowler, James H. & Oveis, Christopher & Sieber, William J. & Jain, Sonia & Stein, Murray B. & Taylor, Charles T., 2024. "Application of an egocentric social network approach to examine changes in social connections following treatment for anxiety and depression: A novel measurement tool for clinical trials research?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    3. Jan Eckhard, 2022. "Gender Differences in the Social Consequences of Unemployment: How Job Loss Affects the Risk of Becoming Socially Isolated," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 36(1), pages 3-20, February.
    4. Yeo-Kyeong Kim & Donghyun Kim, 2024. "Role of Social Infrastructure in Social Isolation within Urban Communities," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-13, August.
    5. Mateja Lorber & Jožica Černe Kolarič & Sergej Kmetec & Barbara Kegl, 2023. "Association between Loneliness, Well-Being, and Life Satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, February.
    6. Choi, Hayoung & Gyul Hwang, Sung, 2023. "Patterns of adverse childhood experiences and social isolation in young adulthood: Evidence from South Korea," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    7. Nicola Döring & Melisa Conde & Karlheinz Brandenburg & Wolfgang Broll & Horst-Michael Gross & Stephan Werner & Alexander Raake, 2022. "Can Communication Technologies Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older People? A Scoping Review of Reviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-20, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social indicators; Social connectedness; Social isolation; Relational poverty; Multidimensional poverty; Personal relations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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