Who is prone to long-term loneliness?

Who is the loneliest person in America?

It is said that American men are in aFriendship Decline”, a survey found that the number of men without close friends has increased fivefold since 1990. At the same time, Resurfacing comments Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance drew widespread condemnation when he complained that the government was being run by “childless cat ladies” who were unhappy about not having children. Pass through this Political spectrumLast year, the U.S. Surgeon General Published a consultation report Emphasize the seriousness of loneliness and isolation. Long-term data on loneliness is lackingRecent surveys have found Increase exist Lonely This happened before the outbreak.

But who loneliness affects, and the solutions to this complex social problem, are not as simple as you might think.

Loneliness is more than just isolation: it is the subjective experience of craving more social interaction than you currently have. It is also not binary, and no one is immune to it. Loneliness exists on a continuum, Julianne Holt-LunstadProfessor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Brigham Young University. Experience loneliness Labeling people as lonely can bring shame to them at a certain point in their lives. “It can make you feel bad about yourself, which can then make you less willing to engage with others (for fear of rejection),” Holt-Lunstad says, “but it can also affect your view of the world and social situations, which can lead to a negative cycle.”

Long-term loneliness can have serious negative effects on the body and mind: loneliness is also a Health risk factors Like smoking (one of Holt-Lunstad’s most well-known discoveries has been likened to Lack of social connection, smoking 15 cigarettes a day) and alcohol consumption; it has Negative Impact effects on cardiovascular and brain health, and may Link to Increased risk Frustration.

Rather than specifically identifying certain groups of people as lonely, it would be more effective to understand what factors increase people’s risk of loneliness so that we can address the issue at a population level.

Classic loneliness stereotypes—such as unmarried women or older people—fail to capture the range of experiences that contribute to loneliness. Life circumstances have a greater impact on loneliness than other demographic categories. Research have Establishment Self-reported levels of loneliness peak in early adulthood, decline in middle age, and rise again in late life. A 2024 American Psychiatric Association survey found 30% of Americans People aged 18 to 34 said they felt lonely at least a few times a week. The 2023 University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found 37% of American adults People between the ages of 50 and 80 reported a lack of companionship in the past year.

The life changes during early adulthood and old age are significant, leading to increased loneliness. As young people graduate from college, move to new cities, start careers, and build lives, they naturally experience fewer relationships. Eileen GrahamHe is an associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and co-author of a recent study that found loneliness peaks in young adulthood and old age.

Young people are more likely to have lower incomes; the 2023 Gallup poll also found that people with lower household incomes Less than $24,000 per year As these young people develop adult friendships and romantic relationships, marry and start families, their social opportunities increase. As they age, their social networks begin to decline again: children move out of the house, older people lose touch with coworkers after leaving the workforce, chronic illnesses may limit people’s ability to leave the house, and loved ones die.

Other research Research shows that a lack of connection with family, friends and neighbours can lead to greater loneliness in young and middle-aged adults. Having a local support network can help older adults avoid loneliness.

While gender may have received the most attention recently for its relationship to loneliness, it’s not as straightforward an indicator as you might think when it comes to lack of social connection. In her research, Graham found that women tend to report higher levels of loneliness than men. A 2021 Cigna and Morning Consult survey found that about Equal number of men and women said they felt lonely; a 2019 meta-analysis reported similar findings—both men and women reported The same loneliness In their lifetime. After the epidemic, the decline in male friends circle was greater than that of female friends, with 15% saying No close friends,possible Contributed to the narrative of the unique loneliness crisis faced by menHowever, just because men may be physically isolated doesn’t mean they are lonelier.

Likewise, marital status does not perfectly predict the absence of satisfying social relationships. Related to one Reduced risk of death, Married people may feel lonely A 2009 study found that this happens when they don’t get emotional support from their spouse. Holt-Lunstad said low-quality relationships can really hurt happiness.

Parenthood can be a similarly lonely phase in life. Two-thirds of parents and guardians Single parents and mothers are more likely to report feeling lonely, compared with slightly more than half of non-parents, according to the Cigna/Morning Consult survey, which found that single parents and mothers are more likely to report feeling lonely. More than half of mothers with young children According to a 2021 Harvard University report, children can experience severe loneliness. However, the stage of life a child is in can influence how lonely a parent feels. The newborn stage can make a parent feel distant, while an adult child can be a source of friendship and support.

People living alone Tend to report A higher level of loneliness, Research show. “But these people also tend to seek out other sources of socialization,” Graham said. “So if you’re not married or don’t have kids at home, just because you live alone, people tend to seek out social situations that go beyond the traditional, built-in sources of contact with other humans.” Or, married people with kids and a rich social life Can’t avoid loneliness.

Mental health conditions, such as anxiety, substance abuse disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts already Link LonelyRegardless of age, Physical Disability “People with functional limitations who have trouble getting out of the house, people with chronic illnesses who age, all of these factors we found were associated with persistently high levels of loneliness,” Graham said.

Another major factor contributing to loneliness is social marginalization. The Cigna/Morning Consult poll found that 75% of Hispanic adults and 68% of black adults Considered lonely, This compares to 58% of the general adult population. Strong social support system According to the 2023 KFF Racism, Discrimination, and Health Survey, LGBT adults are about twice as likely to feel lonely as white adults compared to non-LGBT adults. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis found that more than half of bisexual and transgender adults in 26 states Feeling lonely“The data show that even within these categories, there are differences by sexual orientation and identity and by race and ethnicity,” Holt-Lunstad said.

Because loneliness affects everyone, we shouldn’t try to eliminate the experience entirely, Holt-Lunstad said. Loneliness is a wake-up call, a signal to seek social interaction. Without that wake-up call, we wither in isolation. Paying attention to our social needs and identifying when we lack support and connection is the first step in addressing loneliness.

Once you realize you’re feeling lonely, try to identify What kind of social interaction do you crave?: Having a heart-to-heart with a close friend? Spending the night with acquaintances at a party? Maybe just observing strangers in a crowded bar.

Research has found that when people Interact with a variety of peoplefrom family and best friends to coworkers and strangers. Try to talk to as many different types of people as possible, Holt-Lunstad said. Research shows Having face-to-face, meaningful conversations with your loved ones can help stave off loneliness.

Because everyone’s social needs are different — one person may need constant connection to not feel lonely, while another is satisfied with a daily phone call with a friend — we need to support our loved ones as much as possible, Graham says. Whether it’s a neighbor who lives alone or a single parent, reach out to those who are most likely to feel lonely. “Knowing that there are people out there may be enough to alleviate any potential loneliness,” she says. “You have to know your people.”