Loneliness, Social Connectedness, and Mental Health Across the life Course: A Comparative Qualitative Study of Children, Women, and Older Adults

Abstract

Loneliness is increasingly recognised as a critical social determinant of mental health with consequences spanning the entire life course. Yet comparative qualitative evidence examining how loneliness manifests across children, women, and older adults within a single integrated framework remains sparse, particularly from sub-Saharan African contexts. This manuscript presents the conceptual and methodological architecture for a comparative qualitative study examining experiences of loneliness and social connectedness and their mental health consequences across three life-stage groups. Adopting a comparative qualitative research design informed by Life Course Theory (Elder, 1998), Social Convoy Theory (Antonucci, 2001), and Social Capital Theory (Putnam, 2000), the study employs purposive and maximum variation sampling. Data are collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2021) and cross-case comparative analysis.  Five thematic domains are anticipated: (1) experiences and meanings of loneliness across the life course; (2) sources of social connectedness; (3) mental health consequences of loneliness; (4) protective relationships and resilience factors; and (5) comparative experiences across children, women, and older adults. The study advances social work and public mental health knowledge by integrating life-stage-sensitive insights into loneliness, demonstrating that its antecedents, manifestations, and consequences are profoundly shaped by developmental stage, gender