Amid loneliness ‘epidemic' in US, one group maintains strong community, poll finds
Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called the social disconnection an 'epidemic of loneliness' and equated its impact on lifespan to 'smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,' according to a 2023 report.
Recently, a Harvard Youth Poll found that 18% of young adults said they 'do not feel a strong sense of belonging anywhere.' Comparatively, 17% of young adults said they felt 'deeply connected to at least one community.'
Twenty-six percent said they felt 'somewhat connected,' per the poll.
Religious Americans — including evangelical Christians, Protestants and members of non-Abrahamic faiths — reported much higher levels of community contentedness, researchers said.
The poll, published April 25 in the Harvard Political Review, found that 62% of young adults who find religion 'very important' felt a sense of community, while 36% of those who are not religious felt the same, according to the poll.
The survey of 2,096 Americans between 18 and 29 years old was conducted between March 14-25, researchers said.
'Americans who belong to a church or place of worship generally have more people they can count on for help and support than the religiously unaffiliated have,' researchers from the Survey Center on American Life said in a 2024 study.
But according to a 2024 Gallup poll, most faith groups in the U.S. have been seeing a drop in regular religious service attendance.
Thirty percent of Americans said they went to religious services every week or almost every week in 2024, down 8 percentage points from a decade ago, according to the poll, which cited the increase in Americans who aren't religious as the reason.
This decline has appeared to stabilize in 2025, according to a Pew Research Center survey, but still remains in the low 30s.
Other findings
The Harvard survey also identified where people live and education levels as indicators of loneliness.
About half of people who live in cities and suburbs said they feel connected to a community, according to the poll. Thirty-nine percent of people living in rural areas and 32% of people living in small towns said the same.
Twelve percent of people who have not attended college said they felt deeply connected to a community, while 22% of people with college degrees agreed, the poll found.
People with college degrees are more likely to live in areas with public spaces, which helps with feeling more connected, researchers said. Those who are college educated are also more likely to participate in a religious organization, per the poll.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
2 hours ago
- Epoch Times
Your Heart May Be a Decade Older Than You Are—Here's How to Find Out
Your heart could be celebrating its 60th birthday while you're still blowing out 50 candles. A new study suggests most Americans face this age gap, which significantly increases their risk of heart attack and stroke. The findings also show this difference is more pronounced among men, those with lower incomes or education levels, or who are black or Hispanic. Disparities Across Demographics The study, published in JAMA Cardiology and based on data from more than 14,000 U.S. adults aged 30 to 79 with no prior history of heart disease, revealed significant differences in heart age gaps across racial and ethnic groups.
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
How do you find health insurance when you're turning 26? Here's some advice
It was supposed to be easier than this. When the Affordable Care Act was passed in March 2010, the goal was to help more Americans get health insurance. And, indeed, the establishment of online marketplaces and a broadening of the eligibility guidelines for Medicaid accomplished that. Fifteen years later, however, that system is anything but user-friendly. MORE: Why young Americans dread turning 26 as they face health insurance chaos Young adults looking for health insurance will likely benefit from talking with so-called navigators who work for the online marketplaces. But if you want to go it alone, here are some tips about shopping for a plan, based on the advice of policy experts and people who have spent hundreds of hours helping others navigate this unwieldy set-up. Buckle up. Begin your search at least two months before your 26th birthday. In some cases, you can sign up for a plan in advance so that it takes effect on your birthday. First, find out if your family plan ends on your birthday or at the end of your birthday month. A few states allow young adults to stay on their family plan until they are 29, with certain conditions and, generally, higher costs. A navigator will know more. You may have the option to stay, for a limited time, on your family's plan under COBRA, a federal program that allows those with group health plans to extend their coverage past age 26. Odds that you will be approved for an extension are even higher if you can claim a disability. Be aware, though, that this option will involve a considerable expense, since you will be required to pay the entire premium (the employer will no longer pay what is usually a substantial share). Those who claim a disability can often stay on the family plan after age 26, depending on the type of insurance the family holds. If you're undergoing medical treatment and can't change hospitals or doctors, paying this premium may be your best course. You don't have this option, however, if your family is insured through an Obamacare plan. Before you start your search, make a list of the medicines and physicians you rely on, and highlight those you can't do without. Rank them, even. It's quite likely that you will have fewer choices on the marketplace than you had on a parent's plan. Be prepared to make some switches and trade-offs. Thirty-two states have adopted the federal marketplace as the place residents can go to compare and buy insurance policies. The rest run their own online marketplaces. You can find out here where to shop for insurance policies in your state. Make sure you land at an official ACA website. There are many look-alikes run by private insurance brokers. The federal marketplace is found at and nowhere else. Note that official state marketplaces sometimes have unusual names. The New York State of Health, Kynect (Kentucky), Covered California, and CoverMe (Maine) are examples. In states that use the federal marketplace, shoppers can find assistance here. On the state-based marketplaces, there is often a 'find local help' button or a tab that directs you to a person who can help you find a good plan. You will generally be asked to choose a broker, who is paid a commission if you sign up, or an 'assister,' who provides the service at no cost. Assisters have received special training in the marketplace they serve, and, because they provide the service free, they have no financial incentive to steer you to a plan that pays a commission to the seller. Assisters are often navigators who are funded by the marketplace, but in some cases they work for hospitals, health plans, or local nonprofits. You'll have to ask. While navigators are generally a surefire option for sound advice, they may become harder to find now that the Trump administration has cut funding for them in states that rely on the federal marketplace. (States that run their own marketplaces are unaffected.) Many nonprofits and states run excellent programs that offer free assistance. And if, for example, you're in the middle of cancer treatment, an assister affiliated with your hospital may offer better advice on picking a plan, since they will know which ones have contracts that may cover more of your expenses. Ideally, these experts will walk you through the process and know which buttons to push to ensure you get the best coverage for your needs at the best rate for which you are eligible. Once you're on an official website that markets plans under the ACA, you will be asked to enter your personal information as well as an estimate of your income. Forty states and the District of Columbia cover single young adults with no children under Medicaid if their income is low enough to qualify. If you're eligible, you should be redirected to the Medicaid website to start the enrollment process, or you may enroll directly on the marketplace site. But be aware that the Republicans' recently passed domestic policy bill has increased the requirements and the paperwork required to get on, and stay on, Medicaid. Medicaid, a joint federal and state program that provides health insurance to low-income Americans, does not charge its members a premium, and it covers medications at a nominal cost or free. The caveat is that those enrolled in the program have a smaller number of in-network doctors and hospitals to choose from. If your income is above the threshold for Medicaid, you will need to shop on the marketplace for a policy. On most sites, a search tool allows you to check whether your doctor or hospital is in a particular plan's network. But beware: The directories on which this search relies are notoriously inaccurate, despite federal laws mandating otherwise. So, before you select a plan, call the doctor or hospital to confirm they accept the insurance plan you're considering purchasing. When it comes to the math, it's better to work on a computer than a phone. Generally, you can compare the costs of, and coverage offered by, only three plans at a time. The following factors include premiums (taking account of any subsidy you get based on your income), as well as other expenses you'll have to pay, called collective cost sharing: The deductible — the amount you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in. (You may get a few 'covered' visits with a primary care doctor; these won't count against the deductible.) Copayments — a fixed payment that you owe for any visit to a doctor or emergency room. Coinsurance (this one can break the bank) — a percentage of the total bill, generally applied to hospital bills, that you have to pay. The plan may make it sound small, say, 10% to 30%. But if you have, for example, the common 80-20 split (in which the insurer pays 80% and you pay 20%), that can add up to a substantial sum. A single day in the hospital can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, and 20% percent of that is a large amount. The out-of-pocket maximum — the most you'll have to pay out in a year, so long as you stay in network and pay the deductible. Doing the math means looking at this holistically, balancing what you can pay in a premium against what you can afford for the above charges. If the deductible is over $3,000 and the out-of-pocket maximum allowed yearly is $9,200 — do you have that much money on hand? Generally, the lower the monthly premium in a plan, the higher the share of costs you'll have to pay should you need medical care. Note that an insurer may offer very different plans on the same marketplace, with different payment policies and networks. People with incomes up to 2½ times the poverty level may gain some relief from cost-sharing charges, but only if they sign up for silver plans. Plans are typically labeled bronze, silver, gold, and platinum; each tier reflects the percentage of your medical expenses that your plan pays overall. Bronze plans offer the least amount of coverage. Once you've narrowed your choices to a few plans, study each closely. A plan with a low deductible might require a $1,000 daily copayment, or 50% coinsurance (you pay 50%) for hospital stays. A plan that lists your desired hospital system as in-network may include only some of its locations, and not necessarily the ones close to you or that offer the type of care you need. When looking at a plan's details, make sure to scroll down and read its 'summary of benefits and coverage' for examples of the plan's coverage of common medical needs. Pay close attention to which services require preauthorization and, for example, how many physical therapy visits they'll cover each year. Preauthorization can be a long and cumbersome process. Generally, the lower the premium, the more preauthorization will be required and the more limited the coverage will be. And check what drugs the plan covers (called the formulary) to see if yours are included, as well as its network of providers, to see whether your doctors are in it. Marketplace plans tend to have limited offerings compared with job-based insurance; there aren't as many doctors and hospitals to choose from. Click on the 'provider directory' to see if an insurer's network includes doctors and specialists you're most likely to need, and hospitals that are acceptable and accessible to you. Check to see if the policy offers any coverage for out-of-network providers. Some will pay, say, 60% or 70% of approved charges. It's a useful perk if you need to see an out-of-network specialist, or if the wait for an in-network appointment is too long. One study found that patients with marketplace plans have access to only 40% of doctors near their home, on average, and in some areas that figure was as low as 25%. It's quite likely even lower for mental health providers. If you've tried to choose a plan and you're still confused, look for one of the 'easy pricing' or standard plans. These conform to certain basic standards laid out by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the marketplaces for the federal government. These plans offer some primary care appointments before you have to start paying the deductible. The government says these plans must carry the label 'easy pricing' on federal marketplace sites. But they may be identified differently on state-run marketplaces. In New York state, for example, they are simply marked with an ST (for standard). Still, funding for premium subsidies is in place for this year at least, and free expert assistance is still out there, so don't delay. There are good deals to be had, if only you put in the work. Good luck. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
World's deadliest animal is probably outside your Florida home right now. Protection tips
What's the world's most dangerous animal? Hint: It's plentiful in Florida and no, it's not an alligator, shark or python. According to the Centers for Disease Control the deadliest animal in the world is the mosquito. "The mosquito kills more people than any other creature in the world," the CDC said, noting the flying nuisance spreads such diseases as malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya. The Florida Department of Health said there are 80 types of mosquitoes in the state, many of which transmit diseases. The agency tracks mosquito-borne illnesses — known as arboviruses — acquired locally and those contracted by people with a history of travel. Here's what you should know, including how you can protect yourself and your family. Mosquito-borne illnesses confirmed in Florida so far this year The latest report from the Florida Department of Health has confirmed the following cases of mosquito-borne illnesses in the state between Jan. 1 through Aug. 2: West Nile Virus: 5 asymptomatic blood donors Escambia: 5 Chikungunya: 4 cases in those with travel history Broward: 2 Lake: 1 Miami-Dade: 1 Dengue: 122 cases in those with travel history; 7 cases in non-Florida residents Bay: 1 Brevard: 2 Broward: 10 Clay: 1 Collier: 2 Duval: 3 Escambia: 1 Hillsborough: 6 Lake: 3 Lee: 4 Manatee: 1 Marion: 1 Miami-Dade: 63 Okeechobee: 3 Orange: 6 Osceola: 2 Palm Beach; 5 Pasco: 1 Pinellas: 3 Polk: 1 St. Johns: 1 St. Lucie: 1 Volusia: 1 Denque acquired in Florida: 8 cases Brevard: 6 Miami-Dade: 2 Malaria: 28 cases in those with travel history; 9 in non-Florida residents Alachua: 1 Brevard: 1 Broward: 3 Collier: 1 Duval: 1 Hillsborough: 1 Lake: 1 Marion: 2 Miami-Dade: 4 Nassau: 2 Orange: 3 Palm Beach: 3 Polk: 2 St. Lucie: 2 Volusia: 1 What mosquito-borne diseases are tracked in Florida? The Florida Department of Health tracks travel- and locally acquired cases of the followed mosquito-borne diseases: West Nile fever and West Nile encephalitis Eastern equine encephalitis virus St. Louis encephalitis virus Dengue virus Chikungunya virus Zika virus California encephalitis group viruses Malaria Florida has more than 80 types of mosquitoes. Here are 5 'most wanted' The Florida Department of Health said there are more than 80 different species of mosquitoes in Florida, compared to about 3,500 species in the world. While not all of them cause disease, here are five the agency lists as "Florida's most wanted": Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito Larvae are found in water-holding objects found around the home and yard, such as flower vases, tires, toys, bottles, conch shells, cans, refrigerator drain pans, barrels, bromeliad plants, and other containers. Can be found in all of Florida except Panhandle counties. Diseases: Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito Larvae found in water-holding objects found around the home and yard, such as flower vases, tires, toys, bottles, cans, barrels, tree holes, bromeliad plants, and other containers. Found in all Florida counties. Diseases: Dngue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Culex quinquefasciatus, southern house mosquito Larvae are found in a variety of aquatic habitats, especially those with high organic content, including catch basins, ditches, containers, dairy lagoons, and others. Found in all Florida counties and are abundant throughout the state. Diseases: Dog heartworm, St. Louis encephalitis virus, West Nile virus. Aedes taeniorhynchus, Black salt marsh mosquito Larvae are found in salt marshes. Found in all Florida counties and are strong fliers that are major pests during summer and early fall. Disease: Dog heartworm. Psorophora ciliata, Gallinipper Larvae are found in ditches, containers, grassy pools, furrows of citrus groves, pasture areas. Found in all Florida counties. Diseases: None none. What attracts mosquitoes? While there's not much we can do about some conditions mosquitoes are attracted to — this is Florida — we should note mosquitoes are drawn to: Damp or humid areas Standing water Warm temperatures Dark, shady areas Carbon dioxide (your breath) Myth or magic? Do mosquito-repelling plants really work? Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs. And they don't need much. Water in a bottle cap can provide an ideal breeding ground. Experts repeatedly encourage residents to empty flower pots, bird baths and any outdoor item that holds standing water — including bromeliads — to stop mosquitoes from breeding. Some residents share ideas to make outdoor living more bearable by selecting mosquito-repelling plants for their landscape, especially citronella and lavendar. But do they really work? 'Certain plants do contain mosquito-repelling compounds,' says Liah Continentino, environmental horticulture agent with University of Florida/IFAS Extension Monroe County. 'But unless you're extracting their oils and applying them like a spray, they're not doing much just sitting in your garden. 'Plants like eucalyptus, citronella, mint, basil, lavender and marigolds have oils that can deter mosquitoes. But the key word is 'oils.' These compounds need to be extracted and used in concentrated forms — like sprays — to be truly effective." In other words, mosquito-repelling plants are more myth than magic — at least when it comes to passive protection, UF said in a news release. So what can Florida residents do to minimize mosquitoes? Don't give up when it comes to enjoy Florida outdoor living. There are some things you can do and some do involve plants. Here are a few ideas: Reduce mosquito habitats 'This includes regularly emptying plant saucers, bird baths, pet water bowls and bromeliads, as well as any other water-holding plants. Refreshing bird baths and pet bowls with clean water several times a week and flushing bromeliad cups with a hose can help prevent larvae from developing,' said Jennifer Pelham, UF/IFAS urban horticulture agent and director of UF/IFAS Extension Martin County. Use plants in your landscape to attract mosquito predators "For dragonflies, which are highly effective mosquito hunters, they are drawn to native aquatic plants. For birds, include shrubs and trees that supply food, shelter and nesting areas,' said Lorna Bravo, urban horticulture agent with UF/IFAS Extension Broward County. Use fish to control larvae For water features that are permanent, such as ornamental ponds, UF/IFAS recommends adding mosquito-eating fish like Gambusia to naturally control larvae. Cover rain barrels with screens and refresh pet water bowls daily to prevent mosquito access. Encourage mosquito predators in your yard, including fish, dragonflies, fronts, birds and bats. What are the best mosquito repellents to use? According to the CDC, repellents with the following active ingredients "typically provide reasonably long-lasting protection": DEET Picaridin Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or PMD "Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus specifies that they should not to be used on children under the age of 3." IR3535 2-undecanone "Certain products containing permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear, and are registered with EPA for this use." Items that don't work to repel mosquitoes "There are many gimmicks for sale that do not work, so be an educated consumer and don't waste your money on impulse buys," the Florida Department of Health said. Some items that are not effective for reducing mosquitoes include: Mosquito plants Bug zappers Consumption of garlic, vitamin B, and bananas Repellent bracelets and wristbands Ultrasonic devices and cell phone apps Dragonfly mimics This article originally appeared on Florida Today: World's deadliest animal are mosquitos. 80 types in Florida Solve the daily Crossword
