I BELONG
Many young people experience loneliness. While there are numerous loneliness interventions, they rarely focus on the design of the built environment, despite research showing that the physical living environment affects feelings of loneliness. Therefore, the question arises: how can we create living environments where people feel comfortable and that help reduce feelings of loneliness?
Welcome to the project page of I BELONG, a new research project that explores the relationship between loneliness among young people and the physical living environment. The project focuses on developing spatial interventions aimed at reducing loneliness, specifically targeting young adults.
About the project
Loneliness is a significant problem, especially among young people. In the Netherlands, 4 out of 10 adults feel lonely. Emotional loneliness is highest among young adults aged 15 to 25, with 14% feeling severely emotionally lonely (1 in 10 people feel severely lonely in 2023 | CBS).
This emotional loneliness, the lack of a close bond, is a worrying trend that needs attention. Research has shown that loneliness not only harms mental health but also affects social and physical health. It is even as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
While various interventions have been developed to combat loneliness, these rarely focus on the role of the built environment. This project specifically investigates how the physical living environment can contribute to people's well-being and how spatial interventions can help address feelings of loneliness.
Together with practical and knowledge partners from six European countries, combining expertise on loneliness and the physical living environment, we are conducting this research.
Project Goals
The I BELONG project has three main objectives:
- Increase understanding: We investigate how the built environment and loneliness are related and through what mechanisms this relationship occurs.
- Develop interventions: Based on the research, we will develop and test spatial interventions that can help reduce loneliness among young people.
- Build a European consortium: We collaborate with partners from six European countries to share knowledge and build a strong network around the theme of loneliness and the living environment.
Project duration
The research project runs from February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2027.
Collaboration
The project is a collaboration between various research groups and areas of expertise within Fontys University of Applied Sciences:
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Partners
We also closely collaborate with practical partners and research institutions from various European countries, bringing their expertise on loneliness and the built environment to the project.
This project is co-financed by Regieorgaan SIA, part of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
Contact
Are you interested in contributing to or learning more about this project? Please get in touch with us. We welcome collaboration with internal staff, relevant (international) research partners, and field partners in the Brainport region and beyond. Together, we can fight loneliness and create an environment where everyone feels at home.
- Pauline van den Berg
p.vandenberg@fontys.nl
+31 88 50 85257 - Eric Schoenmakers
e.schoenmakers@fontys.nl
+31 88 50 82778