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Microcosms of our diverse society, malls have been more than places to shop.

As virtual reality dominates our lives, malls can be a buffer against loneliness and depression.

Malls can be a bridge to social connection for those with special physical and/or emotional needs.

It is not clear what will replace malls as gathering places in our diverse society.

As of the end of 2025, the nationwide mall vacancy rate was 112 percent higher than the overall average retail vacancy rate from the prior year. Analysts project that up to 87 percent of large shopping malls may close over the next ten years. As few as 900 malls may remain open by 2028, down from an estimated 25,000 malls in 1986.

Regardless of the precise numbers, the clear trend has been the decline of large shopping malls. The shift away from large malls has accompanied changes in shopping and purchasing habits. The trend toward online shopping began before, but surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Business and financial analysts will continue to study and project the economic impact of the transition away from brick-and-mortar shopping. But what have been the psychological and social impacts of the changes in the retail industry?

Changes in well-being have not been experienced by people of all ages. The American Psychological Association reports recent increases in stress and emotional disconnectedness among adults (18 years and older). Half or more of U.S. adults reported feeling isolated, left out, or lacking companionship. Loneliness is often accompanied by depression, anxiety disorders, and chronic health problems. Among youth (ages 10-24), suicide rates have increased by 62 percent from 2007 through 2021, and homicide rates surged upward with a 60 percent increase from 2014 through 2021.

Since we used to spend so much time in malls, parallel patterns between the closure of large malls and changes in social behaviors and well-being deserve thoughtful analysis. Fewer large shopping spaces have contributed to increases in spatial division and greater compartmentalization. Large malls have served as spaces that accommodated diverse groups of people coming and going, with no cost of admission, no commitment, no subscription fees, or membership requirements. In a typical mall on an ordinary day, one might observe a family with young children, an elderly man getting by with a walker, and a group of teens laughing and joking over snacks at the food court. In short,........

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