Social connectedness
Social connectedness is the degree to which people engage and interact with others. It can occur at the individual level – emphasising the quality and quantity of connections amongst an individual with others in their social circle. It can also occur at the community level where it relates to the level of connection one has with their community.
Loneliness
Loneliness affects everyone at some point. It is a normal signal that informs us that our social needs are unmet. It is also subjective and can occur even if we are not alone.
For some people, it may be a transient feeling. For others, it may more persistent. Current research indicates that loneliness leads to poorer mental health and physical health outcomes.
People who are lonely are more likely to die earlier and report more co-morbid health problems. Many people with mental health difficulties also experience loneliness.
+Connect and Peer Tree are positive psychology smartphone applications designed to help reduce loneliness by strengthening social connections. They are freely available to Swinburne students and consumers of our mental health stakeholders.
Contact the Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences
We work with academia, industry and government to form meaningful and impactful partnerships. For more information, please email cmhbs@swinburne.edu.au.