Research on loneliness strengthened with 17.6 million DKK
Seven new, original research ideas are now being brought to life with support from Independent Research Fund Denmark. The research projects aim to support research on loneliness and contribute with knowledge about its causes and prevention.
»The societal value has been very evident in these research projects, and there have been many different approaches to the topic. The committee has been pleased to see the broad scope of the projects and that applicants have combined different perspectives and methods within the same project, « says Mattias Strandh, chair of the thematic committee, DFF | Thematic research – Vulnerable children and youth, poor well-being, loneliness and elderly, which awarded the funds for the grant.
Among the new research projects, studies include loneliness among high school students, genetic risk factors for loneliness, and the relationship between loneliness in the elderly and their level of participation in activities such as volunteer work and socializing with family and friends.
»Loneliness affects people across generations and socioeconomic groups and can have significant consequences – not only for individuals but also for society as a whole. The seven selected projects play a crucial role in building capacity in this research field and contribute to greater knowledge in the area, « says Søren Serritzlew, chair of the board of Independent Research Fund Denmark.
The focus has been on ensuring that the research projects provide insights into loneliness as well as its management and prevention across different life stages and generations.
The thematic committee, DFF | Thematic research – Vulnerable children and youth, poor well-being, loneliness and elderly, has also awarded funds under the themes of ‘Strengthening research on vulnerable children and youth and poor well-being’ and ‘Research on elderly and ageing’.
Facts about the call ‘Research on loneliness’
Independent Research Fund Denmark received a total of 21 applications and awarded 17.6 million DKK to seven projects, resulting in a success rate of 33% based on the number of applications.
The program ‘Research on loneliness’ is part of the thematic allocations which is a political, strategic initiative within a particular theme open to contributions from all scientific fields that can provide knowledge on the topic. Thematic research serves as a supplement to independent research based on researchers’ own curiosity-driven initiatives.
Since 2018, Independent Research Fund Denmark has awarded research grants within politically determined themes funded by annual political agreements on the distribution of research reserves.
Reservations are made for changes in grant amounts and number of grants during the upcoming administrative budget review.