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"The study defends the promotion of social safety nets, through generous family and work policies, which may lessen midlife loneliness by reducing financial pre
by iteratethis 3y ago
"The study defends the promotion of social safety nets, through generous family and work policies, which may lessen midlife loneliness by reducing financial pressures and work-family conflict, in addition to strengthening job security and workplace flexibility."
An interesting article with a confusing ending. These policy proposals do not at all seem linked to the root causes mentioned earlier. I would be skeptical that giving people more money/time off significantly addresses the problem.
I think what stands out about the US is geographic spread. It seems common to move a few states away to truly start a "blank slate" life. You lose physical access to your original family, friends in the town you were born, and maybe even the college you went to.
I'll compare to that my "typical" European situation, which is characterized by a lack of geographic spread in the tiny country of the Netherlands.
I still live in the small town in which I was born. And most I've ever known from this town are still here or in adjacent towns. I have immediate physical access to "kids" I've known for decades, everybody I went to school with (except for college, which was further away) my parents, in-laws, 20 or so aunts and uncles and a shitload of their offspring.
So this is an additive network of blood (family), friends, co-students, neighbors. It's a solid network in quantity and quality. It's not a lucky shot because I decided to stay in my town, the point is that everybody stays in the town because they don't need to move a thousand miles for opportunities.
My work actually is quite a long commute away and this reveals another typical European phenomenon: on average, Europeans don't have a strong incentive to build an intimate social network at work. They're less likely to build deep friendships or do dating there. For the simple reason that they already have a network back home.