As nations reel from the effects of poverty, inequality, climate change and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it feels as though the world has entered a period characterized by pessimism, cynicism and anxiety.This edited collection challenges individualized understandings of emotion, revealing how they relate to cultural, economic and political realities in difficult times.Combining numerous empirical studies and theoretical developments from around the world, the div...

Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.How do we hold onto friends and communities in a world that feels increasingly fragmented?This timely collection explores how social connection unfolds across personal, physical, community and digital spaces. From loneliness to belonging, the collection explores the broader social forces that shape our interactions. Packed with fresh insights and accessible research, the contributors bridge theory and practice.