Combating loneliness: The role of neighbourhood ICT, environmental attractiveness, and a sense of belonging to a local community

: Latikka Rita, Savela Nina, Rubio-Hernandez Rosana, Koivula Aki, Makkonen Jouko, Nieto Fernandez Fernando, Vaananen Kaisa, Oksanen Atte

Publisher: WILEY

: 2023

Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology

: JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

: J COMMUNITY APPL SOC

: 17

: 1052-9284

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2717

: https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2717

: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/180336343

Neighbourhoods can provide a sense of belonging to a local community and support subjective well-being. Our goal was to gain novel insight into the value of neighbourhood information and communication technology (ICT) in combating loneliness. Furthermore, we were interested in how a sense of belonging to a local community can be a potential mediating factor and the role of environmental attractiveness. We used data from a nationwide survey of Finnish respondents (N = 1,226) and structural equation modelling for data analysis. We found that perceived environmental attractiveness and a sense of belonging to a local community were negatively associated with loneliness, while the use of neighbourhood ICT was positively associated with loneliness. Perceived environmental attractiveness and use of neighbourhood ICT were positively associated with a sense of belonging to a local community. Perceived environmental attractiveness and use of neighbourhood ICT were negatively associated with loneliness via a sense of belonging to a local community. Our results suggest that perceived environmental attractiveness and use of neighbourhood ICT could help reduce loneliness by enhancing a sense of belonging to a local community. Interventions aimed at improving perceived environmental attractiveness and individuals' senses of belonging to a local community could be particularly helpful in combating loneliness. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

environmental attractiveness, information and communication technology, loneliness, neighbourhood, sense of belonging to a local community

Community Applied Soc Psy - 2023 - Latikka.pdf