Social Isolation in Modern Society (Routledge Advances in Sociology)

Social isolation has serious repercussions for people and communities across the globe, yet knowledge about this phenomenon has remained rather limited – until now.

The first multidisciplinary study to explore this issue, Social Isolation in Modern Society integrates relevant research traditions in the social sciences and brings together sociological theories of social networks and psychological theories of feelings of loneliness. Both traditions are embedded in research, with the results of a large-scale international study being used to describe the extent, nature and divergent manifestations of social isolation.

With a new approach to social inequality, this empirically based study includes concrete policy recommendations, and presents a clear insight into personal, social and socio-economic causes and the consequences of social isolation.

Roelof Hortulanus is a senior lecturer in urban sociology in the Interdisciplinary Social Science Department at Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

Anja Machielse is a lecturer in the Interdisciplinary Social Science

Department at Utrecht University.

Ludwien Meeuwesen is an associate professor in the Interdisciplinary Social Science Department at Utrecht University.