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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Homesick, lonely, newly single: Why people are turning to friendship events

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Adults are increasingly attending organized events in Australia to combat loneliness and form new friendships.
  • These events, ranging from game nights to environmental clean-ups, cater to individuals seeking connection after life changes like moving or relationship breakups.
  • Research suggests that purposeful social interaction, rather than obligatory time, is key to developing friendships, highlighting the value of these dedicated social gatherings.

In Australia, a growing number of adults are actively seeking out organized events to build new friendships and combat feelings of loneliness and homesickness. These gatherings provide a structured environment for individuals to connect with others who share similar goals, particularly after experiencing significant life transitions.

I was so apprehensive and just immediately felt comfortable. Everyone just wants to talk to you.

— Amy LuteDescribing her initial anxiety and subsequent comfort at a friendship event.

Amy Lute, initially anxious about meeting strangers at a game night in Brisbane, found immediate comfort as she realized everyone present shared the same objective: making friends. Similarly, vet nurse Sarah McConnochie moved to Brisbane from New Zealand and purposefully sought out social events to alleviate homesickness and establish a sense of community. She emphasizes the importance of "finding community" to make a new place feel like home.

Peter Frazer, a 28-year-old teacher, experienced social isolation after ending a long-term relationship. He found a new social circle through a group dedicated to picking up rubbish around Brisbane. Frazer notes that their shared "like-minded environmental interest really cuts through a lot of [those] age-related differences," fostering connections among diverse individuals.

I get homesick real bad and one way to help the homesickness is finding a community. So, since moving here, what I've been doing is finding different social events and just putting myself out there to make it feel like home.

— Sarah McConnochieExplaining her motivation for attending social events after moving to Brisbane.

Peer-reviewed research by Jeffery A. Hall supports the efficacy of these intentional social efforts. Hall's study indicates that developing a casual friendship can take three to nine weeks, and a close friendship three to four months. Crucially, the research highlights that "purposeful time" spent together is more conducive to building closeness than obligatory interactions, such as those at work or school. This underscores the value of events specifically designed for social connection.

I think the like-minded environmental interest really cuts through a lot of [those] age-related differences. It's very interesting to meet people who are in a dif

— Peter FrazerReflecting on the unifying power of shared interests in forming friendships.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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