How the neighbourhood-built environment shapes loneliness: A photo-elicitation study

Loneliness, though often perceived as an individual experience, is also influenced by the broader context in which individuals live, including the neighbourhood. This study used a participant-generated photo-elicitation approach to understand how structured (e.g., physical infrastructure) and lived (e.g., perceptions, safety, and affordability) characteristics of the neighbourhood-built environment affect loneliness. Eighteen participants (aged 20-80) from Belgium took photographs and engaged in photo-elicitation interviews to understand their narratives of loneliness and the role of the neighbourhood-built environment in these experiences. Interview data were inductively analysed using the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven (QUAGOL) and supplemented by photographs. The results describe how the neighbourhood-built environment provides an escape from loneliness at home, facilitates social interactions and participation, supports meaningful involvement, and offers a space for solitude and for processing grief and loss. Availability, accessibility, and affordability of neighbourhood social infrastructure are important, while neighbourhood aesthetics contribute to feelings of safety and welcomeness. Changes in demographics and social infrastructure can bring improvements, but also challenges in relation to loneliness. The discussion underscores that loneliness is not only influenced by individual and interpersonal factors, but also by the neighbourhood-built environment. Our research offers a foundation for targeted, place-sensitive interventions that seek to prevent or moderate loneliness (e.g., preserving informal meeting places) and highlights the need for policymakers and urban planners to prioritise social infrastructure, including accessible third and passing places.