There has been an increase in discussion and research on loneliness, isolation and social disconnection within the United States and around the world. Many people experienced true isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing and other preventive measures required people to stay inside their homes and lose in-person contact with our social circles. But prior to the pandemic, researchers have noticed a steady decline in participation in traditional social institutions such as religious institutions, civic organizations and unions. Along with a decline in social institutions, more people are expressing a sense of loneliness or a lack of meaningful social connections.
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory report in 2023 that addressed the health consequences of loneliness and how institutions must address the loneliness epidemic. In the introduction, Dr. Murthy wrote “...social disconnection was far more common than I had realized. In the scientific literature, I found confirmation of what I was hearing. In recent years, about one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic cut off so many of us from friends, loved ones, and support systems, exacerbating loneliness and isolation.” (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023) Loneliness has been tied to negative health consequences and behaviors and researchers argue that if this epidemic is not addressed, community and social institutions will further erode and people’s overall quality of health will worsen over time.
Loneliness & Health
As Dr. Murthy said, loneliness is more than a negative feeling. “Loneliness is defined as a psychologically distressing perception of social isolation, which occurs when there is a mismatch between one’s desired amount and quality of social interactions and relationships and the actual experience.” (Ng, 2024) Anyone is susceptible to loneliness, but according to research studies young people aged 15-24, people over the age of 65, disabled individuals, women and other specific groups report high rates of loneliness. Rates of reported loneliness are high. “In the United States, one in two adults reported experiencing loneliness, and in European studies, the prevalence of loneliness was 2.9%, 2.7% and 5.2% in young, middle-aged and older adults respectively in northern Europe, and 7.5%, 9.6% and 21.3% in young, middle-aged and older adults respectively in eastern Europe.” (Ng, 2024)
Loneliness has been linked to negative health consequences. People who experience high rates of loneliness are at increased risks of depression, anxiety, heart disease, dementia and early death. Lonely people “are also more likely to exhibit negative health behaviors which are fundamental in the association between loneliness and poor health outcomes, for example, excess alcohol consumption, smoking and substance abuse.” (Allen et al., 2022) The U.S. Surgeon General said the negative health effects of loneliness are comparable to the health effects of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Addressing Loneliness & Lack of Connections
Addressing the loneliness epidemic will require cooperation among different institutions and community members. Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation from the Surgeon General’s Office outlines both the harmful effects of loneliness and the Office’s national strategy to address the epidemic. The strategy consists of six pillars:
- Strengthening Social Infrastructure in Local Communities
- Enact Pro-Connection Public Policies
- Mobilize the Health Sector
- Reform Digital Environments
- Deepen our Knowledge
- Cultivate a Culture of Connection
For the third pillar, Mobilize the Health Sector, the report says “It is critical that we invest in health care provider education on the physical and mental health benefits of social connection, as well as the risks associated with social disconnection. We must also create systems that enable and incentivize health care providers to educate patients as part of preventative care, assess for social disconnection, and respond to patients’ health-relevant social needs.” (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023) Health care providers must educate themselves on the impacts of loneliness and have conversations with their patients about the epidemic. Additionally, researchers can collaborate to track rates of loneliness and success of intervention methods so there is clear data that can be used to inform local, state or national policy. These efforts in tandem with other organizational and governmental efforts will create meaningful partnerships and programs that will connect people and cultivate a culture of community care and meaningful relationships.
Conclusion:
Combatting the loneliness epidemic may be difficult because people may experience shame over feeling isolated from others. But failing to address the epidemic means a potential rise in negative health consequences that are associated with severe rates of loneliness. Being vocal about loneliness will also require a level of empathy and vulnerability that is not immediately reciprocated or valued by others. A significant and intentional cultural shift will need to occur in order for people to connect in the aftermath of the pandemic.
References:
- Allen, J., Darlington, O., Hughes, K., & Bellis, M.A. (2022). The public health impact of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14055-2.
- Ng, I.K.S. (2024). The ‘loneliness’ epidemic: a new social determinant of health? Internal Medicine Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.16356.
- Office of the Surgeon General. (2023). Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
- Sime, C., & Collins, S. (2019). Compassionate communities and collective memory: a conceptual framework to address the epidemic of loneliness. British Journal of Community Nursing, 24(12), 580–584. https://doi-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.12.580.
- Summers, J., Acovino, V., & Intagliata, C. (2023, May 2). America has a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/05/02/1173418268/loneliness-connection-mental-health-dementia-surgeon-general.
