On Our Own: Social Distance, Physical Loneliness, and Structural Isolation in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This article examines the multifaceted experience of living alone and loneliness during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic through 55 in-depth interviews with New York City residents. It identifies four key themes: despite frequent virtual contact with friends and family, physical aloneness was a significant source of distress; the loss of everyday anonymous interactions with neighbors and strangers diminished social connectedness; and a sense of "structural isolation," or feeling abandoned by societal institutions and political leaders, imposed an additional emotional burden. The study highlights the importance of a multidimensional sociological understanding of loneliness that includes physical presence, weak social ties, and broader social and political contexts. These findings suggest that addressing loneliness requires not only individual-level interventions but also structural and community-based support.