Network poverty
Network poverty denotes a lack of social relationships , social activities and contacts, especially with friends . The term refers to the sociological model of the social network , within which network poverty corresponds to a low network density.
Consequences and causes
Network poverty leads to loneliness and frustration , a lack of opportunities to develop and use skills, and in many cases leads to psychological distress . As in a vicious circle, these often lead to further social withdrawal, which can then result in further social isolation , but also tangible problems when looking for work . The phenomenon often appears in social hot spots and satellite towns as well as in poorer sections of society. Network poverty often first falls when entering professional life, but then increases again as people get older.
Temporary network poverty can have external and temporary causes, for example as a result of a change of residence. A long-term manifestation can be caused by psychological problems , especially fear of attachment , but also by language deficits, social exclusion and economic poverty . If network poverty has mainly (mostly unconscious ) psychological causes, psychotherapy can often help those affected.