Select Page

A history of loneliness research in Ireland: The Contributions of Professor Brian Lawlor

by | Jan 28, 2026 | Loneliness and technology, Loneliness research network, older people, young people

As Professor Brian Lawlor retires, we recognise how his clinical and research work in old age psychiatry led to influential contributions in an emerging field: loneliness research.

Professor Lawlor recently retired from Trinity College Dublin. He had worked as a psychiatrist of old age at St James’s Hospital, where he was the Founding Director of St James’s Memory Clinic, with dementia and cognitive decline as his central clinical and research focus. With increased understanding of the aetiology of dementia, he began to focus on risk factors, and co-established the the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity College Dublin in 2015.

Risk factors of dementia and health in older adults can include psychosocial processes. In 2008, Professor Lawlor and Dr Conor O’Luanaigh demonstrated that loneliness warranted medical attention because of its association with health outcomes in older adults.

Building upon this research with Prof Jeannette Golden and Prof Ronan Conroy, he examined loneliness prevalence across Dublin’s older population, demonstrating its role in predicting mood and wellbeing.

As the connection between loneliness and outcomes in later life became clearer, his investigations expanded. Through the TRIL project (2010-2012), he explored loneliness as a risk factor for sleep and social support. Additionally, the Dublin Healthy Ageing Study examined links between loneliness and vascular health as well as cognitive functioning – natural extensions of his core interests, providing much needed evidence to understand the intersections of loneliness and health. Professor Lawlor’s work on loneliness expanded further in the 2010s to focus on specific subgroups. In DESTRESS, working with Dr Maria Pertl, he investigated how stress and loneliness emerge among dementia caregivers. Similarly, in the RelAte project, he explored loneliness and nutrition among older adults living alone, and in Only the Lonely, he explored the potential for volunteer-led programs to reduce loneliness.  

The COASTAL study with LTRN Chair Dr Joanna McHugh Power and LTRN member Dr Caoimhe Hannigan explored lived experiences of loneliness among rurally isolated older adults in Ireland, examined aetiological theories, investigated loneliness among dementia caregivers, and studied befriending interventions as solutions to decrease loneliness and its effect on health.

Professor Lawlor continued to explore the epidemiology of loneliness, and loneliness as a health risk factor, within the past ten years. He  examined loneliness as a contributor to dementia risk in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and developed the “social asymmetry” concept with Dr Joanna McHugh Power – contextualising loneliness alongside social isolation to predict psychological wellbeing and cognitive function. Their research included cross-cultural comparisons bettering the understanding of both Irish and international meanings of loneliness as well as exploring  connections between loneliness and social withdrawal, sustained attention and depression, and hearing over time.

From 2018, Professor Lawlor served on the Irish Loneliness Taskforce, bringing his clinical and research expertise to policy development. He has collaborated with international experts on commentaries addressing public health approaches to loneliness  (here, here, here,  here, and in the context of COVID), helping establish loneliness as a recognized public health priority. He also helped to launch the Loneliness Taskforce Research network in 2023. One of his last contributions to research publications was on the effect of retirement on loneliness from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. He was happy to find that retirement was not associated with increased loneliness but in fact offered the opportunity for social connection!

Thank you, Professor Lawlor, for your central contributions in establishing loneliness as a research focus in Ireland and internationally. Your work across these areas will continue to influence research and practice for years to come.

‘Where do we all belong?’ Social Art Project in rural Sligo

by | Sep 17, 2025 | Loneliness and technology, Loneliness research network, older people, young people

‘Where do we all belong?’ is a socially-engaged visual art project addressing loneliness in Co. Sligo, Ireland. We connected with director Ronan Dillon to understand a little bit more about this important project. To find out more, please visit the project website.

Please tell us about your art project ‘Where do we all belong?’ and the research component that has gone into this project.

“Where do we all belong? is a socially engaged visual art project that explores the theme of loneliness in Co. Sligo. The title of the project is inspired by the Beatles song Eleanor Rigby ‘all the lonely people, where do they all belong?’. The project is structured in three phases: research, development, and exhibition.

In the research phase, we engaged directly with communities in rural Sligo using a mobile consultation vehicle — echoing how fish vans or mobile libraries traditionally serve isolated areas. We collected anonymous notes, reflections, and anecdotes from people about their experiences with loneliness. It was a uniquely heart-warming and heart-breaking week of surveying and we were delighted about how open and interested the public were about engaging with the project. Each day we heard emotional and touching stories, for example a lady told us about a woman she knew who posted a letter to herself so the postman would visit. Another lady told us the smell of roses is helpful in alleviating feelings of loneliness . The research stage was not just data gathering but an artistic and participatory act, the conversations that this project creates is as much a part of the artwork as any physical artworks.

We are currently in the development phase, we absorbed all the feedback and began to formulate ideas about how best to create visual outcomes that are appropriate and sensitive to the information gathered These text based artworks will appear around Co. Sligo. 

The process and outputs will be documented through film and photography, and ultimately presented in a public exhibition along with visual artworks at Abhainn Studio in Enniscrone. Following the exhibition we will publish a book and update the website to preserve and share the collected stories for long-term engagement. The opening will be on October 17th at Abhainn Studio in Enniscrone.”

What have you learned about loneliness from the communities that you have interviewed in Sligo?

“From our survey (236 respondents, of whom 78% live in Sligo), the most common answer for every question was “Sometimes”, suggesting loneliness is not constant but recurring. After reading all the personal notes and thoughts about loneliness it was striking how broad the demographic loneliness affects. We received messages from people living in cities and people living in isolated areas that felt lonely. Single people as well as married people. Young and old. A big learning was that people were genuinely glad to be asked if they were lonely. One man noted “I’m 66 years old and no one has ever asked me if I am lonely”

  • Very few respondents (2%) reported “Never” experiencing any aspect of loneliness. 
  • Lack of Companionship: Nearly 60% of Sligo residents “sometimes” feel they lack companionship, with only 10% never experiencing this feeling. 
  • Over half (52%) sometimes feel that people are around them but not truly “with” them, indicating a disconnect between physical and emotional presence.
  • Nearly half (49%) sometimes feel left out.”

What kinds of programs or initiatives do you think we need to address loneliness in Ireland? Or, specifically, in Sligo?

“The insights point towards three directions for action:

Creative, community-based initiatives: Projects like Where do we all belong? show that art can provide a safe, inclusive space for people to share experiences and see them reflected back in unique and meaningful ways. Expanding arts-led, participatory programs can foster belonging while reducing stigma around loneliness.

Intergenerational activities: As highlighted in the Sligo Age Friendly Strategy (2023–2026), older people often feel marginalised and excluded from consultation. Bringing together young and old through workshops, storytelling, and cultural events can build bridges across generations and combat isolation for both groups.

Mobile and outreach models: The research vehicle concept reflects how rural services already function in Sligo. Extending this model to social connection — through mobile arts, cultural, or wellness programs — could reach those who are unable to attend town-centre events. And we hope we can tour our exhibition with this in mind.”

Loneliness in Young People

by | Apr 9, 2024 | Loneliness research network, young people

A brief look at the experience of loneliness as a young person

 

 

Loneliness has recently been declared by the US Surgeon General as a new public health epidemic. What’s more, research in Europe has shown 35% of the population report feeling lonely on a regular basis, while 13% feel lonely most or all the time. Unfortunately, this research also revealed Ireland has the highest rates of loneliness in the EU, with 20% of people reporting that they are lonely most of the time[1].

 

 

What is loneliness?  

 

 

Loneliness is experienced as a feeling of disconnection from others, often resulting from fewer desirable relationships or social interactions. It is a subjective unpleasant feeling and complex emotional state of mind. As a young person, I believe that loneliness is a universal feeling. In my opinion, loneliness isn’t limited to older adults; it can affect individuals of all ages, including the younger generation. When I first moved away from home to study, I noticed more frequent feelings of loneliness being away from home and missing family and friends. This experience is not unique to me, as attested to in a recent exploratory study with a sample of 6,708 participants whereby 71% reported they had experienced loneliness at some previous stage in their life, with 39% as a young adult (16–24 years)[2]. 

 

 

Does loneliness affect young people? 

 

 

I’ve realised that despite popular opinion, loneliness is not always associated with being alone. It is possible to feel lonely even while surrounded by others and it is also possible to spend a lot of time alone without experiencing a sense of loneliness. It’s ironic that loneliness is affecting my generation, considering developments in technology and digital communication. Yet, with our heavy reliance on screens, coupled with various life transitions and the pressure to perform and fit in, it’s clear that feelings of loneliness can easily emerge.  

 

 

As young people, we experience a significant amount of life changes and transitions. Events such as leaving home and moving away from family, old friends and support systems, beginning a new job, or attending a third-level college, can all result in us feeling lonely. It is an important developmental stage where we are gradually becoming more independent from our parents and striving to build strong relationships with our peers, all the while developing important emotional and social skills. The numerous demands and expectations that are placed on us such as academic stress, societal pressures and financial and employment concerns all intensify feelings of loneliness.  

 

 

It comes as no surprise that in the BBC Loneliness experiment which involved 55,000 participants, levels of loneliness were highest in younger respondents with 40% feeling lonely[3]. As young people, we can often feel lonely and disengaged in a society that promotes an unachievable ideal and prioritises achievement and productivity. 

 

 

There is really interesting research currently underway, which is being conducted by Prof Jennifer Lau in of Queen Mary University London, in collaboration with other researchers. The goal of this project is to develop a new loneliness assessment questionnaire that is specially designed for use by young people – the Youth Loneliness Scale (YLS)[4]. Initial findings from workshops and focus groups provide insights into what loneliness means to young people and adolescents. Common descriptors of loneliness included feelings of isolation and being unsupported by others, resulting in negative emotions like anger, boredom and dejection. Young people in this project have spoken about the importance of feeling respected, included, and understood by friends and that feeling excluded or uninvolved in conversations or plans resulted in loneliness.  Moreover, they explained how they associated loneliness with feelings of self-consciousness, negative and anxious thinking patterns, and expressed that they feared others perceiving them as being lonely. 

 

 

There is a stigma encircling loneliness for my generation, we don’t want to acknowledge or speak about the feeling of being lonely because that could translate to us being seen as weak or vulnerable. There is a crucial need for this stigma to be broken down through encouraging open communication.  

 

 

What is affecting loneliness among young people? 

 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on young people in terms of limiting and reducing our social interactions in an effort to control and regulate the spread of the virus. While it needs to be acknowledged that the distancing measures put in place were necessary for public health and individuals’ safety, they resulted in an increased level of loneliness.  

 

 

Statistics from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that loneliness levels have nearly doubled in less than a year increasing from 6.8% in April 2020 to 13.1% in February 2021. Moreover, a British study about COVID-19 and loneliness revealed 16 to 24 year olds were more likely to have experienced lockdown loneliness (50.8%), compared to those aged 55 to 69 years who were less likely to (24.1%)[5]. 

 

 

Personally, I believe that the lockdowns restricted our efforts to grow, develop, and transition from adolescents to adulthood. Forging new friendships and strengthening and maintaining existing relationships became exceedingly difficult to achieve under such circumstances resulting in pronounced feelings of loneliness. 

 

 

Without doubt, I believe that social media use is inextricably linked with loneliness, and it cannot go unspoken when discussing this topic. In recent years, the way in which we connect and communicate with one another has completely transformed by modern technology and social media. Irrespective of our location, staying in touch with family and friends has never been easier and can be done in a matter of seconds. There are a multitude of communication options available to us such as Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Skype and Facetime, to name but a few. It is evident that we are availing of these services, as the My World Survey 2 (MWS-2)[6] reports that 96% of adolescents have a social media profile.  

 

 

But despite all this connectivity, levels of loneliness are rising. While as young people we may feel more comfortable expressing ourselves through screens, online relationships are simply less fulfilling than in person interactions. The intimacy and depth of face-to-face connections can never be replaced by the superficial nature of online exchanges. I feel like there’s no replacement for face-to-face communication. Its associated attributes such as body language and tonality, allows for a much higher level of human contact and connectiveness. I also think that social media lends itself to social comparison. Its curative nature can lead to feelings of inadequacy whereby we begin comparing ourselves to the false images that are presented online, intensifying feelings of loneliness. A reported 34% of young people spend more than three hours online per day and 29% spend 2-3 hours online a day according to the MWS-2. This high dependence on technology may be contributing to our loneliness as technology alone does not replace the value of interpersonal communication and human engagement. 

 

 

Prolonged experiences of loneliness has an extremely harmful and damaging effect on us as young people in terms of our overall mental health and wellbeing. One study carried out in 2021 by Hemberg and colleagues linked loneliness with negative attributes such as fear, anxiety and emptiness among young people[7] while other studies, such as one carried out by Zysberg in 2012, highlighted its associated adverse psychological conditions, namely, depression, social deviance, lower social skills and substance abuse[8].  

 

 

When discussing loneliness, I think it is important to note the key role of the Loneliness Taskforce (LT), a coalition of organisations and individuals working to address loneliness. The goal of the LT is to raise awareness of loneliness and campaign for more action to address this issue. To help tackle loneliness, the LT have made various recommendations and one that I think is really beneficial is to become more involved in our local communities. They suggest volunteering to increase both our interpersonal skills and self-confidence and also recommend we get involved in local initiatives such as Foróige, Tidy Towns and the GAA.  

 

 

Seeking help from others and having open and honest discussions and conversations also can help in reducing the stigma that is surrounding loneliness. Furthermore, we can engage in activities such as practising self-care and connecting in person with friends and family.  

 

 

Given loneliness is such a prevalent issue, I think mental health studies should include more findings and up to date statistics in relation to loneliness as a means of raising awareness. These actions can help we as young people to feel valued while also promoting a sense of openness and interconnection within society. 

 

Shauna McDonagh

Shauna McDonagh

Research Assistant

Shauna is a third year BSc Psychology student in Maynooth University. She was a Research Intern with ALONE during her third-year placement and is currently working as a Research Assistant with ALONE. Her research interests are in the areas of health, clinical and developmental psychology.

Shauna previously completed a Research Internship with Maynooth University. Her work included research in the area of rehabilitation, disability and health psychology with various roles such as data collection, abstract screening and policy analysis.