Despite social isolation and loneliness represent serious public health concerns, relatively little is known about evidence-based behavioral interventions that can help in dealing with these critical individual and social aspects. Recent evidence, however, suggests that mindfulness-meditation and mindfulness-based interventions, with their present-moment awareness and openness/acceptance fundamental components, may promote better social-relationship functioning and reduce loneliness.

After a general introduction to mindfulness-meditation and mindfulness-based interventions, the lecture will focus on their effects on individual and social pain and on loneliness.



Cristiano CRESCENTINI - is a neuroscientist and psychotherapist with interests in cognitiveneuroscience, clinical psychology and mindfulness meditation; he is assistant professor at the Department of Languages and Literatures,Communication, Education and Society of the University of Udine, Italy.

Recorded in Udine 6th July - IFOTES Congress "Leaving loneliness, building relationships"