Cultivating Belonging for Self and Others in Learning Spaces During the Pandemic

What is it about?

Despite the growing digital connectivity in the world, loneliness and social isolation are emerging as a global public health concern. People are feeling a lack of real human connection and a lowered sense of belongingness regardless of the abundance of facilities designed to foster social connection. _x000D_ Our study focuses on the area of ‘belongingness’ - the feeling of being part of something and connected to others. We’ve taken a close look at all the research done in this field to date, acting as a guide to understand where this research has been, where it is now, and where it might go in the future._x000D_ This work is not just for academic researchers; it’s also a handy tool for professionals who work in areas related to mental health, community building, and social policy. We used two methods in our study: bibliometric analysis, which is like taking an aerial view to see the big picture of the research landscape, and thematic analysis, which is more like walking on the ground to see the finer details. Our study highlights the most important research done so far, points out the current trends, and suggests potential future areas of research._x000D_ By mapping out this field, we aim to help both scholars and professionals better understand and address the issues of loneliness and the need for belongingness in our increasingly digital world._x000D_

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