On migration, and the role of place in the sense of belonging

“Displacement, exile, forced migration, and refugee status (even simply moving to a different city or country for work or study) can result in feelings of loneliness. This is because our sense of belonging includes not just people but also environments. The role the physical environment plays in experiences of belonging and loneliness has largely been ignored in the study of loneliness, despite its being a very common experience.”

— Chikako Ozawa-de Silva, from The Anatomy of Loneliness