Loneliness is on the rise in the U.S. Here’s what you should know about this common feeling.

Published: February 11, 2025 | Updated: February 18, 2025

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

When the U.S. surgeon general called the loneliness epidemic in this country a public health issue in 2023, it called attention to the potential damage that social isolation can do on our society.

Loneliness, simply defined, is feeling disconnected from friends, family and the community. It’s more than an occasional bad feeling. It’s the experience of believing you have no meaningful relationships.

“Loneliness doesn’t just affect your mental health,” said Joshua H. Brandon, M.D., family medicine physician with Norton Community Medical Associates. “It has impacts on your physical health as well.”

Why are so many people lonely?

Studies, including one from Harvard’s Making Caring Common project, have revealed that while the COVID-19 global pandemic was a contributing factor to the rise of loneliness, about half of American adults surveyed were feeling alone before the pandemic. Some other catalysts for this loneliness epidemic include:

• Reliance on technology as a substitute for interaction: The use of texting, consuming social media, games and media can make it feel like you are part of a community, but it can be very isolating.
• Overwork, busyness and general fatigue: Many people report feeling too busy or too tired to be social.
• No community involvement or strong social network: This could be volunteering, church or other religious involvement, that gets people interacting in person and in real time.
• American society tends to be individualistic: We tend to applaud self-reliance, and resist asking for help.
• Remote work: The pandemic sent a large part of the American workforce home to work during quarantine. Many people have opted to continue this arrangement, which limits in-person interactions.
• Age: This may be surprising, but younger people tend to experience feelings of isolation more frequently than older people. In a Harvard study, people between ages 30 to 44 were the loneliest group — 29% of people in this age range said they were frequently or always lonely. Adults ages 65 and older reported the lowest rate: 10% said they felt lonely.

“There is also still a stigma around mental health issues,” Dr. Brandon said. “People feel embarrassed about their loneliness, or they believe they should be able to ‘snap out of it.’ That creates a cycle of self-isolation.” 

Loneliness and physical health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk for:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Depression and anxiety
• Suicidality and self-harm
• Dementia
• Earlier death
• Weakened immune system
• Physical pain

People who feel isolated often need more health care and miss work more often than their counterparts with strong social connection.

What can we do about chronic loneliness?

 The Harvard study revealed some solutions to this public health crisis. If you are experiencing loneliness, you can:

• Reach out to family or friends.
• Work on self-love and practice self-care.
• Learn to be more forgiving of others.
• Find ways to help others.

Researchers from the Making Caring Common project stress the need to foster a culture that cares and serves others and building a sense of community with social infrastructure. Survey respondents mentioned wanting more community events, accessible public spaces and other ways to build meaningful relationships. Also, research on the “Blue Zones” — regions where people live longer and healthier — identified 10 habits for a healthier life, which include ways to get connected, reduce stress and improve overall health.

If you or a loved one is experiencing feelings of loneliness, talk to your primary care provider. There are many resources for people in our community and ways to get involved.