Over 80% Of Adults In The U.S. Experience Loneliness: Study
A study of close to 50,000 people living in the United States revealed that at least 80% of them experience some degree of loneliness. The study findings further revealed that women and white individuals are far more prone to loneliness than their male and non-white counterparts, which puts them at a greater risk of suffering from depression and poor physical health outcomes as well.
In a press release, lead author of the study, Oluwasegun Akinyemi, a senior research fellow at the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC, said: 'The magnitude of the impact was striking, particularly that over 80% of adults reported some level of loneliness. Young adults, women, the unemployed, and people with less formal education were more likely to report loneliness. Loneliness not only impacts the elderly – it cuts across all age groups and backgrounds.'
'People who felt lonely 'always' had a fivefold increase in depression risk, 11 more poor mental health days, and 5 additional poor physical health days per month compared to those who never felt lonely. These effects were consistent even after accounting for age, race, gender, and other factors,' he added.
'Although loneliness increased the risk of depression for all racial/ethnic groups, Black and Hispanic individuals reported comparatively lower odds of depression across all levels of loneliness, pointing to potential cultural or social buffering mechanisms,' Akinyemi and colleagues noted in their study, which was published in the journal PLoS One.
The researchers highlighted that adults who always felt lonely were far more prevalent among white study participants. Out of the 47,318 U.S. adults who participated in the study, more than 73% were white and female (62%). Most of them were between 18 and 64 years old. While young people reported high levels of loneliness as well, those above the age of 45 reported a slightly higher prevalence of loneliness.
'Our study highlights that loneliness is not just an emotional state—it has measurable consequences for both mental and physical health. Addressing loneliness may be a critical public health priority to reduce depression and improve overall well-being. Conducting this research allowed us to explore the lived experiences of many individuals in vulnerable situations. What stood out most was how strongly loneliness affected every aspect of health, underscoring the urgency of tackling this hidden epidemic,' the study authors added.
'Interventions like social prescribing, community building programs, and integrating social connection screening into routine care can help. Technology-driven tools can also connect isolated individuals, especially in rural or underserved areas,' Akinyemi explained. But he noted that a major challenge is that people believe admitting they feel lonely will be perceived as a weakness or social failure, which could discourage them from seeking help in the first place.
'This silence could worsen health outcomes and delay interventions that could prevent long-term harm,' he added. 'We hope this study prompts national action to recognize loneliness as a modifiable risk factor, like smoking or obesity. Our next steps include evaluating interventions and studying how digital tools and cultural factors shape loneliness in diverse populations.'
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