Loneliness and social infrastructure in rural America: A cross-sectional analysis of existing relationships.

ABSTRACT: Loneliness can have deleterious effects on mental, physical and behavioral health. Growing research suggests the important role of social infrastructure in preventing and addressing loneliness. However, much of this work focuses on urban-based case studies, narrow definitions of social infrastructure, and crude measures of use. In addition, research in this area has not taken into account confounding factors that may be explaining this relationship. In this paper, we use a cross-sectional survey of a demographically representative sample (N = 1129) of working-age adults in rural America to examine if a relationship exists between loneliness and multiple types of social infrastructure utilization among rural working-age adults. We also determine if contact with family and friends (i.

SUBMITTER: Rhubart D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12687765 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature