There's a Loneliness Epidemic. Here's How It's Affecting Your Well-Being

With how connected smart devices have us, loneliness isn't something that comes to the front of our minds. However, a recent study published by the American Medical Association found that 29.2% of adults aged 50 to 80 said they felt isolated from others "some of the time" or "often" in 2024. This was out of the 2,051 to 2,576 respondents included in the survey. Loneliness was most common among people not working, those living alone and individuals with lower household incomes. For those who reported a high rate of loneliness, they were also more likely to cope with social isolation. When the loneliness epidemic becomes a public health challenge Though some people require more social interaction than others, humans are social beings. If we don't have a sense of community or lack a feeling of belonging, it can have negative health effects. It also threatens public health, as outlined in a 2023 Office of the US Surgeon General advisory. According to the surgeon general's office, adviso ... Read full article.