Social Connection in Everyday Spaces / Earvin Cabalquinto, Caitlin Buckle, Jasmine Knox, Hannele Komu, Shannon Bennetts, Sharinne Crawford, Tiffani Howell, Fiona Giles, Kylie Burke, and Marlee Bower ; editor Milovan Savic, Roger Patulny, Jane Farmer.

Front Cover -- Social Connection in Everyday Spaces -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- Notes on Contributors -- Acknowledgements -- 1 More than Loneliness: The Quest to Understand Social Connection -- Reconsidering loneliness: from individual-​centred to structural understandings -- Personal connections and structural constraints -- Physical-​structural constraints -- Community connections and structural policy issues -- Digital social connection and structural issues -- Ways of understanding social connection -- 1. Dimensions of social connection -- 2. Social network perspectives -- 3. Relational approaches to social connection -- 4. Social capital: resources, relations and critical perspectives -- 5. Community development perspectives on social connection -- 6. Cultural dimensions of social connection -- 7. Temporal dimensions of social connection -- 8. 'Pragmatic' synthesized models of social connection -- Roadmap for the book -- Part I: Personal Spaces -- Part II: Physical Spaces -- Part III: Community Spaces -- Part IV: Digital Spaces -- Conclusion -- Note -- References -- Part I Personal Spaces -- 2 Male Friendships and Social Connections: Privileges and Pitfalls -- Introduction -- Methods -- Male and masculine norms and attitudes to social interaction -- Men's social networks and support -- Men's social practices, interactions and activities -- Men's socially oriented feelings -- Discussion and conclusion: 'happy wives, happy "social" lives'? -- Notes -- References -- 3 Older Filipina Australians' Local and Transnational Connective Care Practices -- Introduction -- Older Filipina Australians: a brief overview -- Connective care practices in ageing migrants' digital lifeworlds -- Methodological considerations -- Older migrants' everyday connection in a foreign land.

Consuming culturally tailored contents as self-​care -- Caring locally and transnationally -- Troubled connections -- Conclusion -- Funding -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 4 Social Connection by Design: Finnish Approaches to Long-​Term Care -- Social connection in long-​term care -- Challenges to social connection -- Practice from regional Finland: a case study -- Methods -- Context -- Homes, spaces and places -- Forest View -- Autumn Leaves -- Job satisfaction: people and social connection -- Social connection activities -- Learnings for supporting social connection -- Conclusion -- References -- 5 Companionship in Times of Uncertainty: The Role of Pets for Families with Children during COVID-​19 -- The study of human-​animal interactions -- The COVID-​19 context -- Method -- Who participated? -- Findings -- Pet attachment, pet-​related activities and family wellbeing -- In parents' own words -- Conclusion -- References -- Part II Physical Spaces -- 6 Can Our Housing Environments Impact Loneliness? A Tale of Two Studies -- Introduction -- Study 1 -- Structured environment -- The lived environment -- Study 2 -- Conclusion -- References -- 7 Urban-​Rural Disparities in Social Network Profiles Among Older Koreans at the Early Stage of the Pandemic -- Introduction -- Methods -- Measures -- Social network indicators -- Mental health -- Covariates -- Analytic strategies -- Results -- Sample characteristics -- Characteristics of the social network profiles -- Mental health implications of social network profiles -- Discussion -- References -- 8 The Rise of Parkrun: Collective Positivity, Rituals and Episodic Togetherness in an Age of Loneliness -- Introduction -- Real community? Theorizing social connection at parkrun -- Methods -- The 'church of humanity': social connection and the collective ethos of positivity.

Rituals and social connection: generating belonging at parkrun -- Episodic togetherness and beyond: friendship, loneliness and emotional talk -- Conclusion -- References -- 9 United by Insects? Insects' Control and Development of Social Connections in a Large City -- Neighbour connections in cities (in Russia) -- Research methodology -- Controlling/​fighting insects: when market and habit come into play -- Neighbour connections: the limited possibility of collaboration -- Conclusion -- References -- Part III Community Spaces -- 10 Nature-​Based Social Prescribing with LGBTQIA+​ Asylum Seekers and Refugees: A Feasibility Study Using 'Friends in Nature' -- Introduction -- RECETAS -- Improving health and wellbeing through social connection -- Developing NBSP for LGBTQIA+​ asylum seekers and refugees -- From Circle of Friends to Friends in Nature -- Methods -- Insights from the feasibility study -- Adaptation 1: Duration -- Adaptation 2: First three-​week access and empowerment letter -- Adaptation 3: Technological engagement -- Adaptation 4: Intercultural reflections -- Conclusion -- References -- 11 Social Connectedness in Pandemic Times: A Case Study of Australia's Italian-​Background Community -- Introduction -- Background and literature review -- Social capital and social connectedness in times of crisis -- Methodology -- Impact of COVID-​19 among Italian-​Australians -- Providing and accessing support -- Discussion -- Conclusion -- References -- 12 Local Place-​Based Social Connection in Urban Fringe Areas: Learning from Resident Experiences -- Introduction -- Background -- Social connection theoretical lens -- Methods -- Findings -- Local locations and connection -- People in home locations -- Experiences connecting people and locations -- Digital connection and locations -- Opportunities -- Discussion -- Ideas for policy and practice.

References -- Part IV Digital Spaces -- 13 From Disruption to Digital Adaptation: Young Women's Social Connection During Lockdowns -- The pandemic's social disruption -- Theoretical frameworks for understanding social connection in crisis -- Social capital theory -- Resilience theory -- Convoy model of social relations -- Research approach -- Five stages of social adaptation -- Pre-​pandemic social capital (baseline) -- Social connection collapse -​ shrinkage of networks (pandemic phase -​ response) -- Phase of solitude (pandemic phase -​ response) -- Reconstruction of networks: digital adaptation (transition phase -​ pre-​recovery) -- Post-​pandemic social equilibrium (recovery) -- Understanding social connection in crisis -- Conclusion -- References -- 14 Technological Bridges and Digital Ambivalences: The Role of Technology in Tackling Loneliness in Later Life -- Social connections -​ why they matter -- Loneliness, connectedness and technology -​ a relational approach -- Methods -- Results and discussion -- The complexity of loneliness -- Technological bridges -- Digital ambivalence(s) -- Conclusion -- References -- 15 Digital Pathways to Social Connection and Mental Health on the Urban Fringe -- Introduction -- Conceptualizing social connection -- A digital social connection ecosystem -- Notes on the methodology -- Findings: navigating social connectivity in digital spaces -- Digital lifelines: Emery's social connection journey -- Digital emotional support and friendships: Cristina's Discord community -- Social connectivity in the face of complex family relationships: Maeve's digital ties -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 16 Improving Social Connection in Everyday Spaces: Some Guidelines for Everyday Policy and Practice -- What is social connection? Concept, challenges and opportunities -- Addressing disconnection in personal spaces.

Addressing disconnection in physical spaces -- Addressing disconnection in community spaces -- Addressing disconnection in digital spaces -- Themes, gaps and solutions across everyday spaces -- Conclusion: Where to for social connection? -- Looking ahead: challenges and opportunities -- References -- Index.

Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.How do we hold onto friends and communities in a world that feels increasingly fragmented?This timely collection explores how social connection unfolds across personal, physical, community and digital spaces. From loneliness to belonging, the collection explores the broader social forces that shape our interactions. Packed with fresh insights and accessible research, the contributors bridge theory and practice.Offering practical strategies for policy and practice, this book charts paths to meaningful connection. An essential guide for policy makers, academics and anyone seeking deeper connections, it provides hope - and action - for a more connected future.