Loneliness: the great challenge of the 21st century

The importance of social relationships has been extensively studied for decades, highlighting their relevance to people's physical and mental health. Loneliness is understood as a painful experience experienced in the absence of social relationships, feelings of belonging or due to a sense of isolation. This phenomenon arises as a result of a perceived discrepancy between social needs and their availability, i.e. it is an emotional state that reflects the subjective experience of the socially isolated.

In the first part of this course, the conceptual delimitation of loneliness will be discussed in order to differentiate it from other terms, such as isolation, and to understand the dimensions and facets involved. The prevalence of loneliness, its implications for physical and psychological health, as well as associated risk and protective factors will be presented.

The second part will focus specifically on the impact of loneliness on the most vulnerable population groups, including older adults. Throughout the life cycle, multiple changes occur in the three essential concepts through which social relationships are described: social network, social support and social participation. These changes place older adults in a particular situation that can lead to increased vulnerability to loneliness. In addition, the possibilities of minimising loneliness in gerontological centres will be explored in depth, providing practical tools for its approach in institutions.

Programme

THURSDAY, 14TH JULY

9:00 - 9:30h. Reception of participants and handing over of documentation.

9:30 - 11:45h. "Loneliness: delimitation of the phenomenon, risk factors and protective factors. Prevalence and scope of loneliness".

• Javier Yanguas Lezaun - Scientific Director of the Senior Citizens Programme of the La Caixa Foundation.
• Pilar Conde Almalé - Technical and Operations Director at Clínicas Origen.

11:45 - 12:15h. Break

12:15 - 14:00h. Round table: "New technologies and the media. Loneliness in the age of communication".

• Juan López Doblas - Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology and Coordinator of the Master in Social Problems, Direction and Management of Social Problems at the University of Granada.
• Mónica Donio Bellegarde Nunes - Pillars for Personal Autonomy Foundation.
• Soraya Sánchez - Psychologist at Clínicas Origen Málaga.

Moderator: Iraida Delhom - Doctor in Psychogerontology. Lecturer and Researcher at the Jaume I University of Castellón and the International University of Valencia.

FRIDAY, 15TH JULY

9:30 - 11:45h. "Vulnerable groups in the face of loneliness: older adults and carers".

• María Márquez González - Professor of the Department of Biological and Health Psychology at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
• Andrés Losada Baltar - Professor of the Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid.

11:45 - 12:15h. Break

12:15 - 14:00h. Round table: "Loneliness in gerontological centres and services during the pandemic".

• Lourdes Bermejo Sánchez - Vice-president of Gerontology of the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology.
• José Luis Pareja Rivas - Director of the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Residential Centre.
• Sara Marsillas - Researcher at the Matía Institute in San Sebastian.

Moderator: Iraida Delhom - Doctor in Psychogerontology. Lecturer and Researcher at the Jaume I University in Castellón and the International University of Valencia.

14:15h. Clausura