‘It's a lonely old world’: Developing a multidimensional understanding of loneliness in farming

Abstract

This article develops a multidimensional understanding of loneliness in farming communities, based on qualitative research with the UK farming community. It presents a conceptual model of loneliness in farming and uses evidence from workshops and interviews with farmers, farm family members and farm support practitioners to explore the various ways in which loneliness is manifested and experienced within the specific context of farming environments, cultures and identities. A range of farming-specific factors commonly contribute to experiences of loneliness within this community, and we argue that these can be conceptualised as relating to three varying, but interlinking, dimensions of loneliness: social, emotional and cultural. We also discuss the role that certain elements of farming culture and identity play in shaping the ways in which loneliness is experienced and managed. Finally, we consider some of the implications of our findings and suggest priorities for action from a range of stakeholders including the government, the public, farm support organisations and the farming community themselves. Understanding the complexities and nuances of loneliness within farming is important in order to mitigate the issue and help address wider mental health problems within this population.