Learning relationships – a visual interpretation of Silvan Hornstein's research. The motif will be displayed on posters throughout Berlin as part of the BUA OPEN LAB campaign. | Artist: Robin Lochmann
Dear Silvan, congratulations on winning the BUA ideas competition in the field of social cohesion. What motivated you to take part in the ideas competition?
A major problem when it comes to loneliness is the stigma and lack of awareness, especially among young people. Despite some great initiatives in recent years, many people still think of loneliness as something that only affects older people, and many of the numerous young people affected feel alone with their problem. When I saw the call for entries, I thought it could be a great opportunity to raise awareness for this very important issue.
What exactly do you mean by loneliness—and why is it so dangerous for our health?
Loneliness is defined in research as a subjective perception of insufficient social contact. It is therefore not the same as social isolation, a common misconception: people can also be lonely if they have many people in their lives but feel that these contacts are insufficient. The German government's loneliness report estimates that almost 10 million people are affected. In recent surveys, one in three young people say they suffer greatly from loneliness. And this has devastating consequences for health. Loneliness is associated with a significantly reduced life expectancy and a greatly increased risk of mental illness as well as cardiovascular disease. Robert Waldinger, head of one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies on human well-being, once summed up these consequences as follows, and I have nothing to add to that: “Loneliness kills. It's as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”