The Modern Health Crisis You’re Probably Dealing With

There’s an epidemic raging in the United States, and you might be experiencing it right now. According to a study by the health insurance company CIGNA, more than half of American adults are lonely, a condition in which a person lacks close relationships and a sense of belonging due to social isolation, which can stem from factors including age, mobility, social media use, and more.

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid loneliness and feel more connected to the people and community around you. Here’s what to know about this modern epidemic.

“Alone” vs. “Lonely”

There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely. Being alone is a state of solitude whose effects can be negative (you end up going to the movies by yourself when your friend suddenly bails) or positive (you embark on a solo retreat to reflect and recharge).

Loneliness, according to the 2023 surgeon general’s report on the epidemic, is a distressing feeling that results from one’s perception of having too few meaningful connections to friends, family, or community. It often arises from social isolation, where a person  lacks social interactions through structures like school, work, faith organizations, group memberships, or leadership roles in their communities.

Why It’s an Epidemic

Many characteristics of our 21st-century society contribute to loneliness. Compared to earlier generations, Americans today leave their hometowns for school or jobs more often and form fewer lasting community ties. Online communication has replaced many of the face-to-face interactions we used to have at the bank, grocery store, and shopping mall. According to Weill Cornell Medicine, social media also reduces those interactions and increases “feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and social anxiety, especially among teenagers.” 

On the other end of the age scale, older adults may be particularly susceptible to loneliness because of cognitive or physical challenges or life events that make it more difficult to connect and form new relationships.

The Health Effects of Loneliness

Loneliness worries public health experts because it’s associated with a greater chance of developing chronic illnesses. Social isolation is linked to a 29% greater risk of premature death, according to the surgeon general’s report — equivalent to the effect of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. According to the World Health Organization, loneliness is linked to about 100 deaths an hour around the globe. 

Feeling lonely and disconnected also bumps up the risk of heart disease, stroke, anxiety and depression, and dementia. On a day-to-day level, people who are lonely perform worse in school and less productively at work.

The mechanism behind loneliness’s effect on health? Stress. People dealing with feelings of isolation and distress experience more inflammation throughout their bodies, which reduces immunity and can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, and more plaque buildup in arteries, all of which are risk factors for heart disease. Cardiovascular issues can be exacerbated by other behaviors associated with loneliness, such as smoking, alcohol misuse, physical inactivity, and poor sleep.

Social connections can counteract those negative effects. For example, studies have shown that people tend to be more physically active if their peers exercise regularly, and people are more likely to quit smoking if their friends also quit.

Ways To Feel More Connected

Experts offer several ways to be more socially engaged. If you already feel a little overwhelmed, start small — suggest meeting for coffee to a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

When possible, you should meet with friends or colleagues in person instead of over Zoom, and consider joining groups or organizations focused on your interests or shared experiences, such as alumni associations or hobby-related clubs. Take an in-person class at a library, rec center, or community college. Volunteer with an organization that appeals to your values. You could even foster a shelter pet and enjoy the stress-reducing benefits of caring for an animal in need.

If you’re experiencing severe symptoms of loneliness, be sure to speak with your doctor about ways to cope.

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