ABSTRACT
The following key arguments and findings are summarized and elaborated: more rigorous research on the consequences of loneliness is needed; we need more precise definitions and classifications of loneliness; essentially, loneliness is about the relationship between an individual and other members of a society; loneliness is unevenly distributed across social groups and societies; we need to identify the loneliest; those not lonely should help more. Without transforming the way people think about and treat each other, we have a long way to go to win the battle against loneliness.
